8 Day 50-Hour Yin and Meridians Yoga Teacher Training in Villamartín, Spain

Certifications

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

About the training

This 50-hour Yin yoga teacher training course explores the practice and teachings of Yin yoga from a functional approach of how you adapt poses to each individual. You will explore Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) fundamental theories such as the meridians, Yin and Yang, or the five elements, and how you can stimulate the meridians with Yin yoga asanas. In short, you will learn how Yin yoga works and how to combine it with TCM principles to teach deeper, richer, and enhanced Yin yoga classes.

This training is designed to place you in the role of the student as you apply the concepts of Yin yoga and TCM to your practice. During this training, you will explore Eastern philosophy, Yin yoga, TCM theory, and asana clinics. Finally, you will practice the skills Yin teachers use to support their student balance: Situations in which someone needs to stretch, relax, and slow down. Earn your 50-hour certificate during one of the most beautiful times of the year at Suryalila, where almond trees are in bloom and signs of new life are everywhere.

Requirements

You are required to have completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training program. You are also required to be in good health, physically and mentally. Please note that this is a yoga teacher training intensive.

Grading policy

For those of you working to obtain your 50-hour Continuing Education Units (CEUs) with Yoga Alliance, you need to complete all the following activities:

• Attend all sessions and classes of the training
• Participate and engage actively in each class
• Pass the final Q&A test and review
• Design and teach your 30-minute class

Goals

By the end of the training, you will be able to:

• Understand and explain the importance of Yin yoga
• Understand and apply the theory of yin and yang
• Understand TCM and its fundamental theories
• Adapt Yin yoga asanas to different body types
• Target and rebalance internal organs through Yin asanas
• Teach inclusive, creative, safe, and intelligent Yin yoga classes
• Use Eastern philosophy to live a happy and fulfilled life

What you learn

Philosophy

Learning goals: Understand the theory of the gunas and how Chinese elements interface with the chakra system. Use Eastern philosophy to live a happy and fulfilling life. Practice different meditation techniques.

• The gunas
• Chakra system
• Chinese five elements
• Meditation practices
• Changing your relationship to thoughts and feelings

TCM and meridians

Learning goals: Understand traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its fundamental theories. Locate 12 main meridians. Apply the meridian system to Yin yoga asanas.

• Introduction to TCM
• Five-element theory
• Yin yang theory
• Meridian foundation
• 12 main meridian pathways
• Meridian stimulation
• Meridian and Yin asanas

Asana lab

Learning goals: assist students to find the asanas safely in their own bodies. Safely adapt asanas to different body types. Stimulate the 12 principal meridians through Yin yoga asanas.

• Yin yoga asanas
• Modifications, use of props, and variations
• Asana link to the meridians
• Asana link to five elements
• Making Yin yoga accessible

Teaching

Learning goals: Teach inclusive, creative, safe, and intelligent Yin yoga classes. Plan and teach Yin yoga classes according to seasons, emotions, body functions, and the 5 element theory. Find your voice and create your own style as a Yin yoga teacher.

• Inclusive skillful cueing
• Qualities of a great Yin yoga teacher
• Yin yoga class sequencing
• Target and balance internal organs through yin asanas

Practice

Learning goals: Deepen your own practice by experiencing inspiring sequencing with precise instruction. Each practice focuses on one of the five elements and targets different meridians.

• Five Vinyasa yoga classes
• Five Yin yoga classes
• Five guided meditations
• Teaching practice
• Class sequencing

Course structure

This is an intensive one-week in-person course. You are supported and mentored throughout the course. They provide a safe environment to practice teaching.

• Eight-hour time commitment per day
• Course material and assignments are studied in your own time during the day
• 30-minute office hours

Reading recommendation

This book is not required for the training, but they recommend it as a good foundation to help you prepare for the training.

• Insight Yoga: An Innovative Synthesis of Traditional Yoga, Meditation, and Eastern Approaches to Healing and Well-Being by Sarah Powers, 2008, Shambhala

Daily schedule

The course material and assignments are studied in your own time, during the day. The different Yin yoga teacher training sessions of the day cover philosophy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), teaching methodology, posture clinic, or the meridians. A time for personal help is allocated during office hours. Occasional evening sessions happen once or twice per week. Last Friday evening is dedicated to celebrating your graduation.

• 08:00 - 09:30 Meditation and Vinyasa yoga practice
• 09:30 - 10:00 Breakfast groups
• 10:30 - 12:20 Theory class
• 12:30 - 13:30 Philosophy class
• 13:30 - 15:00 Lunch and rest
• 15:00 - 15:30 Office hours (when announced)
• 15:30 - 17:25 Asana lab class
• 17:30 - 19:00 Yin practice
• 19:00 Dinner
• 20:00 - 22:00 Evening sessions (when announced)