Master Your Mahjong — Mahjong Plaza

Category: Learning
Also called: Master Your Mahjong with Gaia; Gaia Banovich; Mahjong Made Simple
Last checked: 2026-09-08

What it is

Master Your Mahjong is a first-party American Mahjong (National Mah Jongg League card) instructor practice in St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay, Florida: open-enrollment group classes (Mahjong 101 / 102 and Strategy Lab), private lessons at your place or at the instructor’s Gulfport home, private Zoom lessons, plus secondary open-play socials. Founder and lead instructor Gaia Banovich; instructor Lisa Matamoros also teaches on the Meet page. It is not Japanese Riichi, not Chinese-family table mahjong, not the National Mah Jongg League, and not a 4-player public game server.

Who it’s for

Beginners and brush-up players in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties (St. Petersburg, Gulfport, Clearwater, Tampa) who want a dated beginner path and private or Zoom options, plus players past the basics seeking Strategy Lab topics. Distinct from national virtual schools already on Plaza and from JCC-only drop-in calendars.

Why it’s listed

This is a named US instructor brand with its own school site, printed 2026 class dates and prices, NMJL / American wording, and first-party booking pages — not a Facebook-only teacher and not a brand already on disk (not Lara, Molly, Mrs Mahj, School of American, AMJA, NMJL, Mahj Life, Atlanta Mentors, Mahj Mind, or Oh My Mahjong as primary).

Homepage (https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/) on 2026-09-08: “American Mahjong Lessons in St. Petersburg & Tampa Bay”; beginner classes, private lessons, and open play across Pinellas and Hillsborough. Intro: Gaia, teaching since 2023, Mahjong Made Simple method; Certified American Mahjong Instructor; proud member of the Mahj Life Instructor Guild. Banner stats printed: teaching since 2023; 3,000+ women taught; Certified Instructor.
Meet page (https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/meet-us): Gaia Banovich — Founder and Lead Instructor; originally from Slovenia; fine-art background in New York before Tampa Bay; discovered Mahjong in 2019; teaching since 2023. Also lists instructor Lisa Matamoros. Credentials printed: Certified American Mahjong Instructor; Founding Member, Mahj Life Instructors Guild; 2025 AMJA Favorite Instructor nominee.
Group Classes (https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/group-classes) on 2026-09-08: Mahjong 101 (complete beginners, 2.5 hr, $68) — tiles, annual card, Charleston, full game; dated seats including Sep 12, 16, 18, 19, 26 and Oct 1, 7, 17 and Nov 5, 21, 2026. Mahjong 102 (returning beginners, $68) with seats including Sep 25 and Nov 5, 2026. Strategy Lab topic series past the basics (Charleston, scoring, Siamese / three-player, tournament prep, etc.).
Private Lessons (https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/private-lessons): At your location — 2.5 hr (1 hr instruction + 1.5 hr guided play), St. Petersburg & Tampa Bay, 4-person minimum, $35 travel fee, $100 / person ($85 / person for groups of 10+). At my location — Gulfport, FL home; 2 hr; 1–8 players (2 minimum); $85 / person.
Private Zoom (https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/private-zoom): 90-minute private Zoom lesson, worldwide, 1-on-1 or group, digital recap after; $120 / lesson. Student brings an American set (152 tiles incl. 8 jokers + racks); practice card sent if needed.
FAQs (https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/faqs): teaches American Mahjong with the yearly National Mah Jongg League card, jokers, and Charleston — not Chinese mahjong. In-person lessons bring tiles/racks/mats; cancel/reschedule policy printed (48-hour notice; non-refundable with limited reschedule window).
Calendar (https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/calendar): standing weekly open-play venues (Sky Beach Grille, Pour & Décor, Dillard’s Tyrone Square) plus class/event filters — open play is secondary to the lesson program.

Prices and September–November 2026 class dates above are what the official pages showed on the check date. They can change. Book on masteryourmahjong.com before treating a seat as open.

Official URL

School / instructor: https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/

Group classes (101 / 102 / Strategy Lab): https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/group-classes

Private lessons: https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/private-lessons

Private Zoom: https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/private-zoom

Events calendar: https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/calendar

Meet Gaia / team: https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/meet-us

FAQs: https://www.masteryourmahjong.com/faqs

Location

St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay, Florida (Pinellas and Hillsborough counties). Private lessons at the instructor’s Gulfport, FL home or at the student’s location across the area; group classes and open-play partners in St. Petersburg and nearby venues. Zoom lessons available worldwide. Book locations and exact rooms through the official class and private-lesson pages.

Notes

American Mahjong / NMJL. FAQ and class copy are NMJL-card American play (yearly card, jokers, Charleston). Do not list as Riichi or Chinese-family teaching.
Primary listing is instructor / school (curriculum + dated classes + private/Zoom). Standing open-play socials are secondary community play, not the reason this is categorized Learning.
Mahj Life Guild / OMM certification / AMJA nominee are credentials only — this is Gaia’s own site, not those organizations’ pages.
Not affiliated with Mahjong Plaza.

FAQ

Q: Is this Japanese Riichi or Chinese mahjong lessons?
A: No. The FAQ says Master Your Mahjong teaches American Mahjong with the National Mah Jongg League yearly card, jokers, and the Charleston — the version common in St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay clubs.

Q: What does a class cost, and when are the next beginner seats?
A: On 2026-09-08, Mahjong 101 and 102 were $68 per person; private at-your-location $100/person ($85 for 10+; $35 travel); Gulfport-home private $85/person; Zoom private $120 / 90 minutes. Group Classes listed multiple Mahjong 101 dates in September–November 2026 (e.g. Sep 12, 16, 18, 19, 26). Confirm the live Group Classes and booking pages for open seats.

Q: Where are lessons held, and do I need my own tiles?
A: In-person group and private lessons are across St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay (Gulfport home for “at my location”; travel to you for “at your location”). FAQ: for in-person, the instructor brings tiles, racks, mats, and teaching tools. Zoom students need their own American set and racks; a practice card can be sent before the lesson.