Marianne Wells Yoga School review: Horrible & inappropriate

I attended this "yoga teacher training" several years ago and left around day five. I found the conduct of the facilitators, Marianne and Ron, HIGHLY inappropriate.

Ron, who was certified to teach 'yoga' by his wife (Marianne), led roughly 90% of the training, which I had no idea would be the case beforehand. Most of the participants were very young women, and he regularly gave physical, hands-on adjustments without ever asking permission first. He was inappropriate and rude. Marianne appeared inebriated, intoxicated, and incoherent throughout the training.

The philosophy portion did not reflect the yoga tradition in any meaningful way. During the anatomy portion, we were instructed to loop a yoga strap around our necks and bind it down to our feet. This is a dangerous position that no qualified instructor would cue.

I have since completed over 300 hours of teacher training elsewhere, including with well-respected lineages, and in hindsight this program fell extremely far short of any professional standard. I'm glad I left when I did.

When I told Marianne I wanted to leave, she delivered a lecture about how yoga is not about quitting but about sticking it out. She said that when her son died, she was in Costa Rica leading a teacher training and stuck it out, so I should do the same. At that moment I realized she was not well, and I knew I needed to leave.

Do not travel abroad for this. Do not put yourself in a vulnerable position with these predators.