YOGI UNIVERSITY: FOR TEACHERS WHO NEVER STOP LEARNING.

Learn, Level Up & Lead with us under the beautiful Baja sun at Topia Retreat. 

May 16-23, 2026 with Michelle Garcia, Elise Caldarola & special guest Courtney Campbell

Join us for Yogi University's inaugural class of 2026. This is a luxury back-to-school experience like no other where yoga teachers looking to level up their skills, reignite their passion for teaching, and connect with an amazing, talented and supportive community of fellow teachers can come together to learn and grow. 

Elise & Michelle have decades of combined teaching experience and come from diverse backgrounds that allow them to shed insight on all aspects of working in the yoga industry. Courtney is an experienced yoga teacher AND professional yoga photographer as well and she will be with us to offer dedicated photo time and expertise to each Yogi U student. Elise met Michelle during their 300 hour YTT in 2019 and Michelle met Courtney at another 300 hour YTT in 2023. We know first hand the power that friendship and connections have for us as yoga teachers!

We're seeking a very special group of Ivy League teachers for the Yogi U Class of 2026. Teaching yoga can be lonely and burnout is real, even in the wellness space. Whether you've just finished your 200 hour yoga teacher training, or have been teaching for years already, you will graduate from Yogi University with a newfound spark, a toolbox of versatile know-how, actionable tips & tricks and friendships that will last a lifetime. 

At our stunning, private, retreat center in the Baja peninsula, we will spend our days together diving deep into the practice of actually TEACHING yoga and working in the yoga industry.  You'll enjoy workshops on everything from how to cue with clarity, conviction and ease, to writing creative and effective sequences, to teaching multilevel classes to crafting the perfect playlist and actually feeling confident stepping off of your mat when you teach. Want to work in your local studio scene? We've got you with best practices from getting hired to filling your classes. Want to work for yourself teaching online or internationally with retreats and other offerings? We've got you with tips you'll need to be a success. 

Need help with marketing? Are you overwhelmed by taking photos, videos and posting on social media to try to grow your student base? We hear you! We'll spend time discussing marketing strategies and helping you to craft a plan that is doable for you. 

Learning to take amazing iPhone photos with professional yoga photographer, Courtney, PLUS a private 20 minute photoshoot for every participant is included in this experience. You'll go home with stunning content to share however you please. 

If you are a Yoga Alliance member you will receive 30 hours of CE credits upon completion of Yogi University and all required reading, assignments and projects. You need 30 credits every three years to keep your YA registration valid and current. We'll give you all 30!

We'll leave you with one last juicy pro-tip tidbit here and now: Did you know that if you're a working yoga teacher you can deduct Yogi University's expense from your 2026 taxes? Professional development costs are eligible for tax deduction! Yes, please. 

Enroll TODAY in this unforgettable yoga professional development experience. Leave inspired and connected. Yogi University Class of 2026 LET'S GO! 

Cue with Confidence

Sequences that Slay

Teaching Multilevel Classes

Flip the Prop-a-Ganda

GTFO Your Mat 

iPhone Photography

Marketing 101 

Professionalism & Owning the Room

How to Theme Effectively 

and MORE !

Michelle Garcia -ERYT 500, RPYT, YACEP, RYS

Michelle Garcia is an Indigenous yoga teacher originally from Canada with a deep passion for sharing the transformative power of yoga. Since 2009, she has been immersed in the practice, and for a decade, she has been guiding students on their yoga journey. With over 1,500 hours of training, more than 6,900 teaching hours, and experience leading over 30 yoga teacher trainings, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge and a heart-centered approach to her teaching.

She specializes in hatha, vinyasa, and prenatal yoga and is also a YACEP with additional certifications in yin, restorative, and yoga nidra. Her teaching style blends dynamic asana practices with yogic philosophy, encouraging students to cultivate balance, strength, and inner stillness. She seamlessly integrates traditional yogic concepts with modern-day approaches, making the practice accessible and relevant to today’s practitioners.

Beyond the physical practice, Michelle sees yoga as a pathway to self-discovery and healing. She strives to create a supportive and inclusive space where students of all backgrounds feel seen, empowered, and encouraged to explore their unique journey. Whether leading teacher trainings, retreats, or virtual classes, she is committed to making yoga accessible, transformative, and deeply personal.

When she’s not on the mat, Michelle enjoys crafting margaritas, soaking up the sun, and befriending every cat she meets.

Follow Michelle on Instagram @FirstNationsYogini

Elise Caldarola -ERYT500, YACEP, M.Ed

A lifelong New Yorker, and former public school teacher with two degrees in Education, Elise brings her formal training in pedagogy and decades of actual teaching experience to the mat. She has a special interest in training and working with other yoga teachers to develop their teaching skills and has been teaching yoga herself since 2017. 

Elise has been practicing yoga since 2007 and first came to it because it felt good physically, as she had trained as a dancer for 20+ years. Over time, however, she became more dedicated to the practice for its emotional, mental and spiritual benefits. Working as a teacher in a crowded, high-pressure New York City school, she experienced the negative effects of stress on a daily basis. As a typical Type-A overachiever, yoga became a place for her to quiet the mind and step out of the stress of work and daily life. 

Elise resides in Westchester County, NY where she now teaches locally at several studios and has also worked in studio management and teacher training & support. She teaches all styles of yoga from hot power vinyasa to restorative, yin and yoga nidra. She is also an herbalist, a trained Ayurvedic wellness coach, and fur mom of two pups and one cat. In her spare time, you can find her fostering rescue dogs, spending time in her garden, traveling or hanging out with her husband. 

Follow Elise on Instagram @EliseInTheFlow

Courtney Campbell - RYT-500, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Courtney Campbell is a Hatha Vinyasa yoga teacher, Reiki practitioner, and photographer based in Alberta, Canada. She has been practicing yoga since 2011 and quickly discovered the profound healing power of community within the practice. Since completing her first training in 2018, Courtney has accumulated over 600 hours of training and nearly 2,000 hours of teaching experience.

She brings a lighthearted yet empowering approach to yoga, encouraging students to move beyond their comfort zones and discover their full potential. Courtney’s teaching philosophy centers on self-empowerment, body neutrality, and inclusivity, all while fostering a strong mind-body-breath connection. Her mission is to help others align with their sense of purpose, deepen their connection to their community, and embrace themselves as an integral part of nature. She currently holds RYT-500, E-RYT 200, and YACEP certifications with Yoga Alliance.

Alongside her career in yoga teaching and studio management, Courtney is a trained portrait photographer. She graduated from the Photography & Design program at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. Since 2011, she has operated a photography business and has since merged her passions by specializing in yoga and athletic brand photography. She supports fellow yoga teachers and fitness instructors by capturing asana and movement, helping them showcase their brands with beautiful and empowering content.

In her downtime, you can find Courtney walking her pup, Indy, camping with friends, or vintage shopping. With a healthy addiction to Tim Hortons tea, she’s always up for a road trip or a trashy TV show binge!

Follow Courtney on Instagram @CourtneyLouiseYoga

Our 2026 campus is the stunning Topia Retreat. One hour from San Jose del Cabo (SJD) airport, and 15 minutes from the pueblo mágico Todos Santos, Topia overlooks the ocean and is our private villa for the Yogi University experience. Amenities include: whole property filtered water system, spacious yoga room with views of the Pacific, heated salt water outdoor pool, stocked open-air library and kitchen with wood fired pizza oven, hot tub, fire pits for gathering, and hammocks to sway along to the ocean sounds. It is stunning - the photos speak for themselves!

Note: most of our rooms at Yogi University are shared dorms. We believe the dorm experience creates an intimacy that is otherwise hard to replicate and will foster relationships amongst our students that will last beyond your time here at Topia. These relationships will be the most transformative part of your experience! 

We do have some private rooms available, if that is your preference, but you can trust that these dorms are nothing like your cinderblock wall college dorm rooms. Airy, open and bright with private balconies, kitchenettes  and maybe even a fire pit (Sunset Penthouse Dorm), you'll feel very much in the lap of luxury during your stay here. 

Click here to learn the details of each individual room before making your selection.

Topia is committed to enhancing the environment and embracing sustainable values, which is one of these reasons we love it so much. In agreeing to attend Yogi U, you agree to abide by Topia's rules and regulations: 

- No single use plastics (please bring a re-usable water bottle) 

- Avoid excess waste. Leave plastic packaging, tags, etc. at home. 

- Mindful water consumption. Water at Topia must be trucked in from a local well. Please be mindful when showering and requesting fresh linens. 

- Quiet & low light hours: 9:00 pm - 7:00 am. Respect Topia's neighbors and maintain quiet during these hours. Additionally, to protect nearby nesting turtles, Topia embraces "low light," during these hours. 

-Absolutely NO smoking. 

THIS IS A SAMPLE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. 

7:00 am - Light continental breakfast  

8:00 am - Morning yoga practice led by Elise, Michelle or Courtney  

9:15 am - Post practice talk, reflect & debrief  

10:00 am - Big brunch  

11:30 am - Morning professional development workshop  

1:30 - 4:00 pm - Free time  

2:00 pm - Hearty afternoon snack  

4:00 pm - Afternoon professional development workshop  

5:00 pm - Student led practice & feedback  

6:30 pm - Dinner  

8:00 pm - Fireside dharma chats & open forum

Wednesday, May 20th: Afternoon completely FREE for an excursion into Todos Santos town, included! 

Who is this program for? 

This program is for already certified yoga teachers looking to level up their teaching skills, connect with a community of like-minded teachers, receive direct, actionable feedback to hone their craft and receive both professional and personal support in their yoga teaching journey. You must have completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training or similar training in order to participate. If you have not completed a traditional 200 hour yoga teacher training, please reach out to us before booking to see if this is a fit. E-mail JoinYogiU@gmail.com.

Who is this program not for? 

This program is not for the person who thinks they've got it all figured out and is not open to feedback or new ideas. Anyone enrolling in Yogi University must be open to expanding their horizons, hearing different perspectives and experiences, and receiving supportive feedback about their teaching. This program is also not for anyone looking for a pure vacation. We will be active in learning, practicing and teaching daily. You will have some downtime during the day, but the focus is on professional development. Finally, this program is not for the yogi who has zero interest in teaching. A large part of our focus and time will be spent practicing actually teaching and planning ahead for future teaching.

Does the cost of attendance include my flight? 

No. You are responsible for your flight. 

Do I need to have teaching experience? 

No! Come as you are. Baby yoga teachers, those looking to get back into the swing of teaching, veteran teachers, those feeling like they're in a rut or needing inspiration and anyone and everyone in between is welcome.

Can I come alone? 

Of course! This experience is rooted in community. Part of the fun and value is in the relationships with other teachers that you’ll make here. You’ll be eating, breathing and sleeping yoga together (especially if you book one of our shared dorms!), so expect to make fast friends with your fellow Yogi University students.

Can I come with a partner or bestie? 

Of course! If you want to share a bed, you can choose from either the Piscina Suite (queen bed) or the Pacific Suite (king bed) if booked as "double occupancy." Please be sure to select the "double occupancy" option. If you and your partner or bestie want your own beds, book any of the other dorm suites together and you will be roomies with your own beds. Simply book the same dorm suite separately.

Are the rooms co-ed? 

There is ONE co-ed dorm room available (one of the surf suites). If you are not comfortable sharing a co-ed space, do not book this room. It is clearly listed and labeled. All other shared dorm rooms are women only. 

Can you accommodate my dietary restriction or allergy? 

Yes! Topia can accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies. It is your responsibility to inform us of this when booking and we will communicate it to Topia. Please inform us of ANYTHING that affects food choices (i .e. I'm pescatarian but I don't eat shrimp! I'm gluten free but I don't eat gluten free pasta, I'm vegan other than the fact that I eat eggs, etc.). In general, the food at Topia is omnivore and includes meat, fish, dairy and eggs. If you are vegetarian, or vegan please tell us and they will accommodate you!

Will alcoholic beverages be available? 

Yes!  We LOVE a margarita. There is a CASH bar at Topia. Your bar tab will be paid at the end of your stay, please bring cash to settle up. We ask that all Yogi U students practice mindful drinking and maintain appropriate behavior at all times. 

Does this program offer Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Credits? 

Yes! If you are a YA member you will receive 30 hours of CE credits upon completion of Yogi University and all required reading, assignments and projects. You are responsible for keeping a record of your hours if you do not attend all that we offer. If you do attend all that we offer, and complete the self-study work, you will walk away with all 30 hours complete. You will receive a certification of completion from us. 

Is attendance required for all workshops, events etc.? 

No. We're all adults and this experience is what you choose to make it. We firmly believe that we are offering a valuable, transformative experience and every workshop, talk and practicum is part of that but you are free to pick and choose which you'd like to attend. We're not going to monitor you if you choose to play hooky! Please keep track honestly of your hours in attendance if you are going to apply for CE credits with Yoga Alliance. 

Will I get time to practice teach?

Yes! There will be dedicated time during the workshops to practice in small groups but we will also offer student-led practice for the entire class every afternoon. These sessions will be open to any teacher who wants to teach and receive feedback in the moment. You will also have free time daily in the afternoon in which you can choose to practice even more with your fellow students, or have 1-1 time with Elise, Michelle or Courtney should you so desire. 

Do I need to be able to stand on my head, arm balance, touch my toes or do backflips?

No! Morning asana practice will be multilevel with options for modifications and progressions should you so choose. This program will not focus on postures - the emphasis is on teaching skills, and your ability to connect to students and hold space as a teacher. You don't need to be able to touch your toes to do that!

Do you offer a payment plan? 

Yes! Your deposit to reserve your space is $500 and the rest of the program will be paid off in 4 installments beginning in August 2025 and ending in April of 2026. Please note the information regarding credit card fees and payment plans below. 

If you require more or fewer payments, please contact us directly and we can adjust the payment plan for you.  Please reach out at JoinYogiU@gmail.com and we will assist you.

Are there any additional fees? 

If you choose to pay through WeTravel with a credit card, there is an additional 3% + 30 cents per transaction fee. If you use the payment plan option, this fee will apply each time your card is charged. To avoid this fee, please contact us directly to arrange alternative booking and payment. Please reach out at JoinYogiU@gmail.com and we will assist you.

Though not required, tips & gratuity are appreciated by Topia's staff. At the end of your retreat, you may leave a cash tip at checkout. All tips will be pooled and divided evenly among the staff who work in the kitchen, garden, office, and housekeeping departments and do not include massage, transportation or any other 3rd party services.

As a guide, Topia suggests a tip of $20 per day per guest (400 pesos). So if your stay is for 7 days a suggested tip amount would be $140 USD (2800 pesos). Please note that Topia only accepts cash tips. They are unable to process tips through your credit card. 

If your flight arrives or departs from SJD outside of the hours required to meet the group shuttle, you will be responsible for securing your own transportation at your own cost. Arrival at SJD must be by 2:30pm at the latest on May 16. Departure from SJD must be after 2:00 pm on May 23 (group shuttle leaves Topia at 11:00 am checkout time). Flights outside of this time cannot be accommodated with the included group shuttle. Delays or changes in travel will also be subject to booking your own transportation. 

We strongly recommend additional travel insurance that covers cancellation for any reason (CFAR), if you choose to forego travel insurance you assume any and all responsibility for cancellation of any kind by any party. 

We will enjoy one afternoon off during the program where we'll go into Todos Santos town for some fun. Spending is up to you on this outing. Shopping, eating & drinking will be available! 

Can I write this off on my taxes?

Speak to your accountant, but most likely YES! This is professional development and is considered a write-off in many cases. 

What is the cancellation policy? 

Yogi University is nonrefundable under any and all circumstances.

As we all know, the world can be unpredictable. We cannot prepare for everything that could go wrong. The venue has the same policy. Once we commit to them, they commit to us. We are committed, and we are invested in offering this retreat.

Cancellation is NOT available once your space is reserved and the payments will be processed accordingly.

Refund Policy:

All payments are non-refundable.

All payments will be due in full and charged on the due dates to the credit card on file.

We STRONGLY recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers cancellation for ANY reason (CFAR) for your entire trip in the case of unforeseen cancellations. 

This includes whether Topia Retreat cancels, whether Yogi University cancels or whether you decide to cancel for any reason. Of course, both Topia and YU do not plan for this to happen, but given the unprecedented times we're living through, this is where we are at. If this happens, we will do our best to reschedule dates. 

Yogi University, Elise, Michelle, Courtney and/or Topia Retreat are NOT responsible for reimbursing you for any unforeseen expenses or cancellations. 

Protect yourself and your investment with travel insurance. Many credit cards offer travel insurance if you book with your card, but please check the policy to ensure the level of coverage and that you are able to be reimbursed for any reason. 

Here is an organized list from Forbes with other travel insurance company recommendations.

As part of your Yogi University experience, transportation from the airport to Topia Retreat (SJD) and back is included. To take advantage of the included group shuttle, you must land at SJD no later than 2:00 pm on May 16th and your departing flight on May 23rd must depart no earlier than 2:00 pm (the shuttle will leave Topia at 11:00 am check out time).

If your flights are outside these windows, you will need to arrange your own transportation to and from Topia. We can assist you with this. 

Please note that shuttles are arranged based on average flight times so there may be a wait at the airport before departing. If you do not want to wait for us, you can always arrange your own transportation. 

SJD is approximately 1 hour driving from Topia.

Check in is at 3:00 pm (earliest) and check out is at 11:00 am (shuttle departs). Topia cannot accommodate check in prior to 3:00 pm or check out after 11:00 am. 

Yogi University is nonrefundable under any and all circumstances.

As we all know, the world can be unpredictable. We cannot prepare for everything that could go wrong. The venue has the same policy. Once we commit to them, they commit to us. We are committed, and we are invested in offering this retreat.

Cancellation is NOT available once your space is reserved and the payments will be processed accordingly.

Refund Policy:

All payments are non-refundable.

All payments will be due in full and charged on the due dates to the credit card on file.

We STRONGLY recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers cancellation for ANY reason (CFAR) for your entire trip in the case of unforeseen cancellations. 

This includes whether Topia Retreat cancels, whether Yogi University cancels or whether you decide to cancel for any reason. Of course, both Topia and YU do not plan for this to happen, but given the unprecedented times we're living through, this is where we are at. If this happens, we will do our best to reschedule dates. 

Yogi University, Elise, Michelle, Courtney and/or Topia Retreat are NOT responsible for reimbursing you for any unforeseen expenses or cancellations. 

Protect yourself and your investment with travel insurance. Many credit cards offer travel insurance if you book with your card, but please check the policy to ensure the level of coverage and that you are able to be reimbursed for any reason. 

Here is an organized list from Forbes with other travel insurance company recommendations.