13 Day 100-Hour Breathwork and Yin Yoga Therapy Teacher Training in Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka

Certificate

With successful completion, students will receive a Yoga Alliance-affiliated 100-hour certificate from The Body-Mind-Soul Center (RYS 300 – registered school with Yoga Alliance), which can be accredited to the 300-hour Yoga Alliance certification program (or can count as Yoga Alliance continuing education credits for RYTs).

Additionally, students will receive a 100-hour Yin Yoga Therapy™ and Breathwork Facilitator Diploma, which can be a building block for the 700 hours of Yin Yoga Therapy™ education. This is a component of Alexandra Denkinger, M.D. (ACU) physical therapy practice. Alexandra is a licensed and registered doctor of medicine in acupuncture, M.D. (ACU) by the Indian Board of Alternative Medicine, affiliated with Yoga Alliance as a registered yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) and owner of The Body-Mind-Soul Centre (RYS 300).

Elevate both your personal and professional practice and deepen your knowledge through the transformative teachings of yin yoga and the science of breathwork. This training weaves together ancient traditions with modern scientific insights, equipping you with the essential understanding and hands-on tools to confidently support others toward deeper balance and holistic well-being.

Days can vary, but here is an example day:

• 06:30 - 07:00 Sunrise Sadhana - Spiritual self-practice time
• 07:00 - 07:20 Nature meditation
• 07:30 - 08:30 Active morning practice
• Breakfast break
• 09:15 - 10:15 Asana lab
• 10:20 - 11:20 Theory
• 11:30 - 12:30 Methodology
• Lunch and afternoon break
• 15:30 - 17:30 Yin yoga immersion practice
• 17:45 - 18:45 Sunset circle
• Occasional optional evening activities

Breathwork

Understand the profound impact of breath and learn how to skillfully guide others towards holistic well-being, whether in dedicated breathwork sessions, integrated into practices like yoga or meditation, or in daily life. By applying these evidence-informed and tradition-based techniques, you’ll support enhanced energy levels, sharper mental clarity, emotional regulation, and optimal respiratory function for yourself and in those you work with.

Yin Yoga Therapy

Yin Yoga Therapy™ is a reflective and meditative practice rooted in energetic meridian theory, mindfulness, and promoting profound physical, emotional, and energetic release. This training introduces the practice, science, and philosophy of Yin Yoga Therapy™. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the connection between body and mind, the balance of energy and emotions, and work with meridians and Chi, fascia, mobility, and flexibility. This knowledge will equip you with vital tools for personal practice and effective teaching. Join them in fostering a community that emphasizes presence, resilience, and inner tranquility.

2-week immersion

Over two immersive weeks, they introduce the profound practice of facilitating Breathwork sessions with the art of guiding Yin Yoga Therapy™ experiences, providing a solid base towards your professional development in both practices.

You will delve into the scientific principles and core practices of Breathwork that enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By learning to integrate these techniques, you will bring a new dimension to your personal life and gain the confidence to begin sharing these powerful tools in simple, effective ways, or enhance your existing professional offerings.

Yin yoga is a deeply transformative practice on its own, while the core breathwork techniques you’ll gain are highly adaptable and can stand alone or enhance other modalities. This 100-hour module offers a comprehensive journey through essential theory, hands-on application, and personal immersion in both disciplines. In a nutshell, you will learn:

Yin Yoga Therapy™ teaching principles:

Learn intelligent sequencing, skillful guidance with anatomical and trauma-aware considerations.

• Support in recovery and reduce inflammation: Get to know how Yin Yoga Therapy™ aids in rehabilitation, enhances mobility and stability, and alleviates chronic pain by promoting healing and reducing inflammation through mindful, therapeutic poses.
• Meridians and energy flow: Learn Yin Yoga Therapy’s foundation in working with meridians and Chi flow in the body, supporting energetic alignment.

Foundations of breathwork

Explore the anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and biochemistry of respiration, tracing its ancient roots and yogic traditions as well as examining modern scientific perspectives.

• The nervous system and the breath: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricate connection between breath patterns and the nervous system (sympathetic/parasympathetic, heart reflexes, resilience), including a wide array of practical tools for regulation, stress reduction, and supporting oneself and others.
• Pranayama and applied breathwork: Master essential yogic breathing techniques (pranayamas) and modern applications, focusing on mechanics, awareness, biochemistry, and their practical integration in various contexts including standalone sessions, meditation, or practices like Yin yoga.
• Breathwork for emotional and physical well-being: Utilize a diverse range of breathwork techniques to address stress, anxiety, and panic, explore the subtle link between breath and pain, and provide effective tools to downshift and regulate the nervous system.
• Energetic and subtle body practices: Deepen your exploration of energy channels (Nadis), vital force (Prana), and specific techniques like nasal cycles and uni-nostril breathing, understanding their subtle effects.
• Integrating Breathwork and Initial Sharing: Develop skills for implementing breathwork into your personal practice and gain foundational insights into sharing these techniques safely and effectively.

Embodied Teaching Practice:

Practice teaching yourself, receive constructive feedback, and mentorship.

Experience Additional Practices, Healing Circles and Chanting Sessions:

Deepen your practice with Yoga Nidra, meditation, sound healing, mantra, and mudra techniques. Cultivate self-reflection, transformation, and meaningful community connections.

Daily schedule

Here is an example day, but they adjust to sunrise or sunset, temperature, or mosquito time, and it might change a bit from day to day depending on sunset or sunrise times and the venue. Weekdays are study immersion; your weekends are free to explore the area and dedicate yourself to some self-study. Saturdays and Sundays are free, and there are no meals provided. The mornings start with a nature meditation followed by some movement with guided yang yoga classes. After breakfast, there are theory and methodology classes till lunch, followed by a long midday break. The late afternoons are dedicated to the Yin yoga practice and a sunset circle to complete the day.

Detailed Curriculum:

Foundation of Breathwork

• History, origins, tradition and modern scientific developments
• The physiological and energetic basis of breathwork
• Understanding the respiratory and nervous systems & energetic states
• Energy channels (nadis) and vital force (prana) in breathwork

Breathwork for Mental and Emotional Well-being

• The concept of holistic well-being and the role of respiration
• How breathwork influences mood and cognitive function
• A wide array of breathwork techniques for emotional regulation and balance (addressing stress, anxiety, panic)
• Cultivating mindfulness and presence through breathwork
• Breathwork techniques for stress-related issues and the subtle link to pain regulation

Integrating Breathwork into Daily Life and Various Practices

• Integrating breathwork into your daily routine
• Adapting breathwork practice to different energy levels and needs
• Spiritual and meditative aspects of breathwork
• Addressing respiratory and nervous system imbalances

Breathwork Applications and Healing Practices

• Practical applications of foundational breathwork techniques
• Hands-on practice of diverse breathwork modalities
• Integration of breathwork into practices like Yin Yoga, meditation, or as a standalone class
• A breathwork approach to managing stress and promoting holistic well-being

The Science of Breath

• Biomechanics: Explore the physical aspects of breathing, including the role of the diaphragm and respiratory engagement
• Psychophysiology: Understand how breathing influences the nervous system, aiding individuals in managing stress and emotional balance
• Biochemistry: Learn how breathing affects oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body

Foundation, Definition and Theory of Yin Yoga Therapy™

• Physical
• Energetic
• Soul and mind

Yin Yoga Practice

• 35 regular yin yoga poses + additional upper body poses, wall poses, and modifications
• Functional and energetic aspects of the poses
• How and when to use props
• Intelligent sequencing

Yin Yoga, Chi, and the Meridian Flow in the Body

• Yin / yang / chi defined
• 12 primary traditional Oriental Medicine meridians and their healing wisdom
• Meridians addressed in each pose
• Physical, energetic, and emotional value of each pose
• The 3 different ways to activate chi flow
• The transformative power of the rebound

Basic Anatomy and the Theory of Exercise

• The physical theory of the practice
• Aesthetic vs. functional alignment
• Compression vs tension
• Sensory processing, interoception and proprioception
• When and how to apply yin yoga principles in physical therapy to release pain

The Art of Teaching and Guiding

• Intention / Expression / Context / Tools
• Trauma-aware considerations to teaching yin and as a breathwork facilitator

Daily Yoga Practice

• Daily yin yoga immersion
• Morning class of dynamic yang styles of yoga for balance

Sunset / Sunrise Circles

• Meditation / Yoga Nidra
• Conscious connection sharing circles, sound healing, kirtan, cacao ceremony
• Mindful sunset/sunrise walks/activities