Anatomy, Physiology and Eastern Philosophies on Health & Life

The foundation of this training is the holistic and functional approach in which Anatomy, Yoga Philosophy and Eastern Health theories (5 elements, chi and meridians) of the human body are combined. This will empower you to teach beneficial, safe and personalized Yin yoga classes.

You will learn about: bones, movements, joints, muscles, fascia, organ functions, meridian pathways, chi, Taoism, Yoga Sutras, Meridian Theory and 5 Elements Theory in a practical and playful way, using the power of repetition and the sensitivity of all of our senses.

This will help you to understand your own constitution and how to restore physical, emotional and mental imbalance with yoga poses, meditation, pranayama and lifestyle. You will also learn to analyze the individual possibilities, impossibilities and needs of your students, in order to offer personalized adjustments and suggestions, and teach functionally (focusing on feeling and experiencing the pose), rather than aesthetically (focusing on how the pose ‘should be’ performed).

Personal Guidance And Feedback

Expect personal guidance during the Retreat contact days and the additional online check in sessions of the training to help you deepen your practice, your inner journey, and develop your personal teaching style. José encourages you to experiment and reflect. This can provoke different reactions at different levels, because growing is, and remains to be, challenging. José is here to guide and advise you in this personal process.

Integrating eastern wisdom and self-healing into your teaching style

The basic principles of Taoism, 5 Element Theory and the Yoga Sutras, help you to understand your constitution and how to restore physical, emotional and mental imbalance with yoga poses, meditation, pranayama and a certain lifestyle. You will experience what it is like to truly live in connection with yourself and with everything and everyone around you. As you walk this path of spiritual exploration, you will gain tools to pass on your wisdom and make your teachings relevant on a spiritual level too.

Preparation to be in front of the class

Learn and study the language of the body, so that you get a feeling of how to best assist people. Respond to individuals and situations, while not losing sight of other students. Learn verbal and non-verbal instructional techniques and how to smoothly integrate visual demonstrations, touching and personal adjustments into your classes for beginners and multi-level.

Self-Study

Self-study assignments, yoga practice, teaching and regular contact with your study group is all part of this training. This will help you to gradually master the theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and to integrate everything without overloading your system. We offer guidelines regarding the completion of the self-study assignments, but you are free to adapt the offered time frame to one that fits your personal situation more.

However, keep in mind that the examination days are pre-set and you are expected to be present and to participate in the exams (see below). Of course, in case of an unexpected personal situation we can discuss alternative ways for you to successfully fulfill the teacher training anyway.

Check FAQ for a guesstimate on how many hours will be spent on self-study outside of the contact hours in this training.

E-Learning & Communication

For your own deepening and convenience, we provide an online practice environment during the training. The platform is an extension of the physical Retreat training days, so you can absorb the material even better, in your own time and at your own pace. You can repeat the online assignments as often as you like, until you reach a sufficient and – for you – satisfying score.

Advantages of online practice environment:

• All your assignments and personal feedback bundled in one place
• Access to videos and photos of practices learned in the lessons
• Possibility to practice and play with the practical and theoretical material as often as you like
• Access to the platform for up to six months after the training is fulfilled

José will also set up a WhatsApp group so you can stay in touch with the group and get quick answers to questions outside of the scheduled contact training days.

Yoga Alliance Certification

During the training there are two moments of examination (halfway and at the end). First of all for the purpose of your growth as a teacher, and second of all for your Yoga Alliance Certification. Your competence will be evaluated with regard to your own practice, theory and teaching.

The official examination concerns both written and practical assignments;

1. a theoretical exam (multiple choice) to see whether you absorbed the yoga philosophy and Eastern view on health and well-being as your own.
2. a practical exam, in which you’ll demonstrate your teacher skills through a personally designed led Yin Yoga class.

These examination moments are not meant to stress about. They are created to serve you, to see where you stand, where more attention is needed, or further deepening is necessary.

After successfully completing all perquisites of this Yin Yoga Anatomy & Meridians Teacher Training you will have sufficient contact hours for a YA certification and you can register with Yoga Alliance as a RYT 200 teacher (internationally recognized Yoga Teacher Certificate).

Check FAQ to learn more about requirements for obtaining a certificate.

This 200-hour Yin Yoga Anatomy & Meridian Teacher Training starts in February 2024 and spans over 11 months, finishing in December 2024.

After the first half  ‘discover your body‘ you will have a few months to practice and integrate and digest what you have learned and experienced in the first half of the training. This creates a good basis and space in your head for the second part of the training ‘get to your core‘.

Part 1 (100 hours) Discover your body

Movement – Anatomy – Lower Body Poses

The first half focuses on the physical aspects (movements, skeleton and muscles) of the Yin practice, and gives you a solid foundation to teach and adjust the 20 yin yoga poses of the lower body in a safe and personal way.

What to expect in part 1:

• Daily meditation, pranayama (6 techniques) and Yin yoga practice (20 lower body asanas).
• Theory and practice in Anatomy and Physiology: study of bones, joints & movements (skeletal variation); muscles, muscle groups and fascia of the hips, legs and trunk.
• Understanding the anatomical differences between individuals and how to adapt the Yin Yoga practice accordingly.
• Understanding how to stimulate, strengthen and open the body in a healthy way.
• Personal development and self-reflection exercises.
• Practice of teaching and adjusting the 20 lower body poses.
• Practice of usage of props.
• Training in teaching safe and personalised Yin yoga classes.
• Understanding how to build a qualified, safe and inspiring yoga class.
• Introduction to the basics of Taoism and Chinese 5 elements theory and how this enriches the yoga practice. (In part 2 we will study the principles of Eastern philosophies on health and life, e.g. Taoism, meridian theory, chi, 5 elements theory, Yoga Sutras, in more depth.)

PART 2 (100 HOURS) – GET TO YOUR CORE

Energetic – Emotional/Mental – Upper Body Poses

The second half focuses on the energetic, emotional and healing aspects (meridians, chi, organs & emotions) of Yin yoga, and allows you to teach and adjust all 35 Yin asanas in a safe and profound way. In this part the focus is on spiritual development and personal growth. Just as each person’s physical body is unique, so is their energetic make-up.

In this part of the training we turn inside to get answers to questions such as:

• Who am I really?
• What do I really feel?
• What effect does a certain practice have on me, in all layers of my Being (emotional, physical, mental)?
• What do I need at that moment?
• And which tool (asana, meditation, pranayama, etc.) helps you to get to your core?

When we know this about ourselves, we can look specifically at how we can adapt Yin practice to break through destructive thinking patterns and blockages that hinder you.

What to expect in part 2:

• Daily meditation, pranayama (6 new techniques) and Yin yoga practice (15 upper body asanas).
• Extensive study of Oriental Health Theory (TCM) & 5 Elements Theory.
• Study of the most important yoga Sutras written by Patanjali (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi), and how to integrate this into your yoga journey.
• Theory and practice of anatomy and physiology: study of the upper body (muscles of arms and shoulders), repetition of the lower body (hips, legs, trunk) and an in-depth study of connective tissue, fascia and organs to understand the energetic anatomy of Chi and meridians.
• Theory and practice in energetic anatomy: study of Chi, meridians (energy pathways) and their connection to the organs and the 5 elements (water, wood, fire, earth, metal).
• Understanding one’s own thought patterns and healthy functioning of body and mind.
• Learning to recognize different forms of Chi – physical, mental and emotional reactions – and the ability to recognize imbalance.
• Insight on how to use Yin yoga to break through physical and/or energetic blockages and to balance a Chi imbalance (excess / deficiency) in yourself.
• Tools to safely guide others in breaking through their blockages, patterns and balancing the Chi flow.
• Personal development, spiritual exploration and self-reflection.
• Practice of teaching and adjusting the 15 upper body poses.
• Practice of usage of props.
• Learn to teach safe, personal and profound Yin yoga classes.
• Understanding how to build a quality, safe and inspiring yoga class that goes beyond physical practice alone.