9 Day 85-Hour Yin-Yang & Yoga Nidra Teacher Training in Rishikesh, India

Certifications

The course/hours count as Continuing Education hours for Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®) only.

Preconditions and eligibility

There are no preconditions nor do you have to be a yoga teacher, however, some form of yoga experience will be an advantage for most of the courses.

Overview

This course covers an elementary knowledge of Yin yoga asana, Yin yoga sequencing, Yang yoga asana, pranayama, Shatkarma, mudra, meditation, yoga Nidra, teaching methodology, Yin yoga philosophy with the body meridian system, and the amalgamation of Indian Ayurveda-Marma which is neuromuscular and orthopedic science.

You will discover that what you practice is significant yet the way in which you practice it is much more significant. In Yin yoga, you position your body in a specific posture and afterward let go of every solid exertion and give up to the floor for gravity to accomplish the work.

Thus, you loosen up your muscles and apply moderate pressure to the most profound layers of connective tissues of the body - ligaments, belt, and tendons working on the wellbeing and versatility of joints.

This 85-hour Yin YTT gives every one of the apparatuses, assets, and information you really want to develop your training and to begin showing Yin yoga to other people. The practical methodology of the course - in light of skeletal varieties and uniqueness of each and every specialist, gives a recharged point of view of the yoga asanas.

This program is developed as per the standard of Adi Yoga Ashram. Their Yin yoga course offer you vital knowledge of yoga and its essential components.

What is Yin yoga?

Yin yoga blends two ancient principles - traditional Chinese medicine and yogic philosophy. ​Both these ancient principles focus on balancing the universal life force energy. The yogis call this 'prana' and the Chinese call it 'qi'.

Yin yoga has its roots in Taoist traditions, which see that there are two ​opposing yet complementary energies at work within the universe, Yin (passive), and Yang (active). In Yin yoga, certain passive yoga poses are held for a longer duration of time. The poses can be held for 3-10 minutes.

In Yin yoga, only the passive (Yin) poses are used. The use of muscles is kept to a minimum, so the muscles are gently engaged to hold the posture without any extra effort. As the poses are to be held for a longer duration, the use of props like cushions, bolsters, etc., is encouraged.

When you hold a pose for a longer period, you bring the stretch to the Yin tissues, which are the deeper tissues such as the tendons, fascia, ligaments, and other connective body tissues. Your Yin tissues are less vascular (supplied with blood) and less elastic, and therefore, need more time to stretch. When stretched regularly, it increases the overall flexibility, circulation, and range of motion in the joints and ligaments.

What is Yang yoga?

Yang yoga, such as Ashtanga-Vinyasa yoga and modern Hatha yoga, the movement makes the muscles take the main load and stretch. Muscles are Yang tissues, they are quick to warm up and stretch but also quick to cool down and rebound. That is why, if you do not practice for a few days, you see a big decline in flexibility and strength.

So, if you practice only dynamic forms of yoga, you will gain muscle strength, but not necessarily a wider range of motion. To have a healthy range of motion around your joints, many of you need to also stretch the deep connective tissue and the joints.

What are the benefits of Yin yoga

Physical benefits

• Fascia: with the long holds, you stretch and stimulate the layers of fascia in your body. With regular stress, your fascia becomes subtle, and the flow of nutrients increases. This results in the improved overall functioning of the body
• Ligaments: your ligaments connect bones to bones. Ligaments are stiff and strong fascial bands that protect your joints from going out of place, and therefore, limit your range of motion. But ligaments are always contracting with age. With Yin yoga, you gently stretch your ligaments and maintain the range of motion of your joints
• Tendons: your tendons are the connective tissue that connects muscle to the bone. With yang exercises, the tendons become strong and short. This results in a decreased range of motion of the tendons. This is the top reason for injury in athletes. With Yin poses, you pressure and lengthen the tendons gently and retain their range of motion
• Joints: all physical movement happens at your joints. But due to the modern lifestyle which promotes a lack of movement and short-range movements, the fluids in the joint capsules decrease. This decreases the lifespan of the joint. With Yin yoga, you put gentle pressure on the joints, which revitalizes the joints and renews the fluids
• Viscera: with gentle and long pressure on your internal organs, you stimulate them and improve their functioning
• Myofascial: as the quality of the connective tissue is improved, the range of flexibility in your muscles (myofascial) is also positively affected

Physiological benefits

• Studies based on five-week Yin yoga-based interventions have found that Yin yoga works as a preventive tool in lowering plasma adrenomedullin. High ADM is one of the main causes of stress, anxiety, and depression. These are added risk factors for many non-communicable diseases

Mental benefits

• Stress release: helps to release stress which is stored in your deeper tissues
• Emotional balance: stimulates your endocrine glands by pressuring them during long-held poses. The effect is an improved hormonal balance which results in more balanced emotions
• Clarity: there is power in stillness. The regular practice of sitting still and focusing brings mental clarity

Daily schedule

• 05:00 Wake up
• 05:30 - 07:00 Yin Yoga asana practice & teaching
• 07:00 - 08:00 Pranayama / mudra and shatkarma
• 08:00 - 09:00 Meditation and Yoga Nidra
• 09:00 Breakfast
• 10:00 - 11:30 Body meridian system & marma points
• 11:30 - 13:00 Yin yoga sequence and teaching practice
• 13:00 Lunch
• 15:00 - 16:00 Yin philosophy
• 16:00 - 17:00 Yang yoga (Hatha, Ashtanga-Vinyasa or Aerial yoga)
• 17:00 - 18:30 Adjustment-alignment and teaching methodology
• 19:00 Dinner

Complete the course syllabus

Yin philosophy

• Meaning and importance of Yin yoga
• History and origin of Yin yoga
• Understanding the concept of yin and yang
• Yin and Yang organ
• Yin yoga in daily life
• What is Yang yoga
• Yin tattva
• Tao and yin
• Chakra
• Nadis
• Understanding yoga and Yin

Body meridians

Meridians are energy channels that transport energy and life through your body. They affect how you think, feel, and your overall health. When the meridian pathways are open and clear, pranas freely flow through your body to maintain harmony and balance. Practitioners are taught asanas that target these body meridians.

Aerial Yoga

Mudras

Practitioners learn the technique of using seals or gestures to facilitate the flow of energy in the body.

• Jnana mudra
• Chin mudra
• Yoni mudra
• Bhairava mudra
• Hridaya mudra
• Shambhavi mudra
• Nasikagra mudra

Bandhas

Practitioners learn the technique of consciously blocking and unblocking energy flow to different parts of their body.

• Mulabandha
• Uddiyana
• Jalandhar
• Maha Bandha

Yin pranayama

• What is prana and pranayama
• How to take Yin breath
• Types of breathing
• Healing pranayama
• Yang breath
• Cooling breath
• Breathing and Yin movements
• Different from normal pranayama

Yin yoga asana

• Camel pose
• Cat pulling its tail pose
• Caterpillar pose
• Child’s pose
• Dangling pose
• Deer pose
• Dragon pose
• Melting heart pose
• Ankle stretch pose
• Banana pose
• Half butterfly pose
• Butterfly pose
• Frog pose
• Happy baby pose
• Reclining spinal twist pose
• Saddle pose
• Shoelace pose
• Snail pose
• Sphinx pose
• Seal pose
• Square pose
• Squat pose
• Straddle pose

Yang practice

In contrast to Yin, Yang is a more active practice that works on the muscles, blood flow, building strength, stamina, and flexibility. Practitioners learn Yang styles of yoga, which involve rhythm and repetition quite like the Ashtanga-Vinyasa flow.

Anatomy

Learn more about the anatomy of the body to better understand safe and stable physical alignment in yoga poses. Pick up in-depth knowledge to take to the mat to fine-tune and deepen your practice.

• Tissues
• Joints and movement
• Systems
• Compression and tension in the body according to Yin postures

Alignment and adjustment

• Purpose of props and support material
• Right placement of the props
• Contraindications and challenges
• Overcoming teaching challenges

Meditation and yoga Nidra

• Meaning and purpose of meditation
• Meditation and yoga Nidra
• Practices
• Technique 1: Basic relaxation practices
• Technique 2: Visualization yoga Nidra
• Technique 3: Chakra awareness yoga Nidra
• Technique 4: Inner flame yoga Nidra

Teaching methodology

The assistants will help students with modifications, props, alignment, and physical assistance. This is a great way to gain experience. Once this has been mastered, teaching friends in small groups, semi-private, or private sessions are a good way to develop inner confidence.

• Explaining the art of teaching Yin postures
• Building teaching skills
• Building communication skills
• Preparing for a class
• Managing a class
• Overcoming teaching challenges

Students will take turns practising their teaching skills by performing in front of their peers and teachers. Assessments are based on:

• Attendance
• Performance
• Behavior