15 Day 100-Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training Course in Ioannina, Greece

Certifications

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

Overview

In the fast pace of these times, and as everything becomes increasingly faster, finding stillness and balance within becomes an even harder task. A line from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, "Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah," refers to stilling the mind to experience ultimate reality and move toward self-realization.

During Yin yoga, the quiet practice, Yoga Fusion Shala brings stillness while slowing down to point your attention and intention inwards to connect to the purest essence of your being.

Yin yoga has always been around. Although it is relatively new to Western society, they know from ancient yogic texts that seated postures were performed for thousands and thousands of years in India as part of a practice to calm the mind and prepare the body for meditation.

Yin yoga, also referred to as “Daoist” yoga, consists of asana sequences that work deeply into the body’s tissues. The poses are often held for much longer than in other Hatha yoga traditions, with the intention to access deeper layers of the body and connective tissues, as well as combining the whole - going into your body and following the breath process - with a more meditative approach and state of mind.

Within this training, you will be guided to walk your own path as a Yin yoga teacher in order to teach your students the beauty and freedom within this tradition.

As a student, you will have the opportunity to learn more and go deeper in your practice. As a teacher, you will develop your skills by offering properly sequenced classes that will strengthen, stretch, and stimulate, to encourage more flexibility and freedom of movement while simultaneously releasing deep tension in the body and relaxing the nervous system of the participants.

Moreover, you will learn to promote and create a safe practice environment and a deep level of calmness, focus, and equanimity within your classes, having all the proper tools and knowledge required. In the 21st century's stressful times, Yin yoga offers the perfect balance for teachers and students alike.

Yoga Fusion Shala has been constructing and delivering authentic yoga teacher training courses (YTTCs) and workshops since 2018 in different styles and traditions such as Sivananda, Ashtanga Vinyasa flow, Shiva Shakti flow, Aerial yoga, Yin yoga, and Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

Pre-requisites and conditions​

You don't have to be a certified yoga teacher already. Many students take this course just to deepen their practice and knowledge.

The training will be given entirely in English. All training material is in English as well. It is therefore necessary that you are familiar with the English language. If you want to attend this training in Greek, please contact Yoga Fusion Shala to be informed regarding the dates that the training is scheduled to be given entirely in Greek.

If you have any other teaching experience, this will be beneficial, but it is not essential. A regular practice, though, is advised.

If you signed up to attend the whole training in two separate modules, keep in mind that for attending Module 2, completing Module 1 or any equivalent hours of Yin yoga study certification of completion is mandatory. There are no other prerequisites for attending Module 1.

• If you are a beginner yourself, this will help you to understand the teaching and learning process even better.
• If you are a teacher, this training will help you to enhance your teaching skills, enrich your classes, be more versatile, and deepen your knowledge.

Thina Chat

The course will be taught by Thina Chat, E-RYT500, and YACEP® continuing education provider. Dedicated to her yoga path and lifestyle, Thina, a free-spirit yoga nomad, spent a lot of her time traveling the world on her bicycle while teaching what she loves, before coming back to her homeland, Greece, to become the founder and owner of Yoga Fusion Shala.

She is an experienced teacher with thousands of teaching hours, implementing her ''on the road'' life experience as a direct experience on the mat, delivering her teacher training courses with a unique approach regarding the practice and teaching styles.

Promoting unity, freedom, all-inclusiveness, and diversity in her life-changing educational courses, she always focuses on the fundamental understanding of yoga as an opportunity for personal development and spiritual growth.

Why choose Yoga Fusion Shala's Yin yoga teacher training course?

Yoga Fusion Shala's Yin yoga teacher training provides far more than a foundation to get in touch with this ancient philosophy of Yin yoga, and it's suitable for everybody, regardless of age or physical constitution.

They are currently running this Yin yoga teacher training course within the context of yoga practice as a whole, integrating elements from yoga and Chinese Medicine. This training offers a comprehensive, holistic system to future teachers to feel confident to create transformational, unique classes and one-to-one private sessions for their students, in a safe environment with a unique philosophical context.

Yoga Fusion Shala is a little Zen oasis right in the beating heart of the cultural center of historical Ioannina, the ''Capital of Enlightenment,'' where history and tradition blend mysteriously. The silverish shades of Lake Pamvotida and the snowish mountain tops of Pindus stand as the perennial guards that protect it.

Course training and overview

Philosophy, lifestyle, and ethics

Module 1​

• Yin yoga philosophy (part 1)
• What is Yin yoga, its history, and origins
• The benefits of Yin yoga: mental and emotional
• Prana and qi energy
• Introduction to meridian theory
• Understanding of the nadis and chakras
• The five elements
• ​%Module 2
• Yin yoga philosophy (part 2)
• The science of Yin yoga
• Ethics and boundaries of a Yin yoga teacher
• Working one-on-one, personal guidance, and tutoring
• Setting up a yoga business
• Practical matters and business plan

Anatomy and physiology

Module 1​

• Anatomy and physiology for Yin yoga (part 1)
• Parasympathetic system
• The physical benefits of Yin yoga
• Chakras in relation to meridians
• Asanas in relation to meridians, the five elements, the vital organs, and chakras

Module 2

• Anatomy and physiology for Yin yoga (part 2)
• Understanding the body mechanics and principles of alignment in depth
• Apply the alignment principles and biomechanics therapeutically to align the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system

Yin yoga sequencing

Module 1

• ​Beginner sequence
• Upper body and heart opener
• Shoulders and neck sequence
• Spinal sequence
• Hip opener sequence
• Legs (tight hamstrings and quadriceps)
• Sequence for stress
• Detox sequence
• Boosting the metabolism sequence
• Energizing sequence

Module 2

• ​Digestion sequence
• Liver sequence
• Kidneys sequence
• Sequence for lower back pain and spinal injuries
• Knee sequence
• Sequence for athletes
• Sequence for runners
• Prenatal Yin sequence
• Restorative sequence
• Menstruation sequence
• Sequence for insomnia
• Ayurvedic and seasonal sequence

Yin asana lab: Props and variations

Yin yoga uses a variety of props that provide support, comfort, and modification options that allow the practitioner to go deeper into the poses and relax ultimately. Props support the process of unwinding without overstretching, especially the tendons and ligaments.

​You will gain expertise in every level of Yin practice, including:

• Postures and their modification
• Alignment
• Use of props

Yin asana lab: Hands-on adjustments

​You will explore the art of asana adjustment within the Yin practice:

• Learning how to transfer your knowledge of the alignment principles through adjusting, providing aid, and deep release from discomfort
• Understanding how touching the body using the ''breath flow touch'' can offer a deep, stable, and safe experience, leading a student to explore an asana deeper with a sense of release and comfort
• Learning to be present with your energy and breath and getting in sync with your student during the highly sensitive process of adjusting

Pranayama and meditation

• Pranayama techniques and teaching methodology
• Daily pranayama practice
• Daily meditation practice
• Yin yoga, pratyahara, and dharana techniques
• Yin and yoga Nidra
• Yin and sound healing
• Visualization and relaxation techniques

Ayurveda and yogic nutrition

Yogic diet focuses on the spirituality of one's body and plays a very significant role in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual improvement. It can make one calmer and stress-free while having a positive impact on their energy levels.

During the training, you will learn all about the benefits of implementing a sattvic yogic diet into your daily life and the deep connection of yoga and Ayurveda philosophies, while following a vegetarian, balanced nutrition that will optimize your spiritual and physical yogic practices.

To prepare yourselves for the training, we advise you to abstain from using drugs, alcohol, tobacco, meat, and fish.

Yin and Bhakti yoga

• Daily bhajan - Kirtan sessions with live music
• Arati ritual (the light purification ritual)
• Gong fu tea ceremony
• Nada yoga: Tibetan and crystal bowls sound healing meditation

3 additional workshops

• Yin and sound healing workshop
• Traditional gong fu tea ceremony workshop
• Yin partner bodywork workshop

Study materials

All of Yoga Fusion Shala's study material and daily schedule are organized in a very detailed way that will take students through the whole training step by step, daily. During the first day of the welcoming circle, you will be given access to all the study material via your email, where you will be able to have an overview of the whole training structure and prepare yourself, study, and organize daily.

Through the study groups within the database, you will also be able to stay up to date with daily notes, exchange knowledge and information with the rest of the trainees and the teachers, and you will be able to download and print all manuals, etc., as well.

Moreover, you will have ongoing access for life after the training ends, so no worries about missing any training material!

Therefore, besides your traditional notebook and pen, bring with you a laptop or tablet (you can also use your smartphone) to be able to have easy access and easy reading within the daily study modules. This way, you can organize, prepare, and revise your study properly within the training easily.

Regarding practice equipment, you will be provided with all the Yin yoga teaching and practicing props needed for this tradition via the shala (blocks, straps, bolsters, etc), but feel free to bring and use your equipment if you wish, if your travelling way allows you to carry it with you.​​ They can also provide you with a brand new Manduka mat upon request an extra cost if you wish.

Benefits

• IIn-depthYin yoga practice and analysis
• Intensive teaching focuses on educational methods
• Understand the connection between body, mind, spirit, and how Yin can take you there
• Personal coaching and mentoring, guidance, and tips
• Being able to implement Yin classes, yoga Nidra, meditation, relaxation, and sound healing into your teaching schedule
• Follow the evolution of multiple traditions as merged through history into one
• Gain expertise in every level of Yin practice, including postures and their modifications, alignment, and props
• Uncover Yin's unique impact on the body and transform knowledge into practice
• Learn how to build and deliver unique classroom experiences with special tips, expert-level insights
• Bridge the gap between modern science and ancient philosophy at the intersection of Easter cultures
• How to build your own business and start a new career

The training concludes with a written exam, a kirtan, and a tea-ceremony graduation certification ritual. After completing the attendance and passing the exam, you will receive your Yin yoga teacher certificate from Yoga Fusion Shala, recognized by the Yoga Alliance with 100-hour Continuing Education for yoga teachers.

This Yin yoga training is an in-depth 100 hours spread out within 15 days as a complete training or through two separate modules immersive training, that gives you everything you need to start incorporating Yin yoga into your daily teaching and practice, taking you on a journey to discover yourself so you can genuinely shape your path and greatest potential as a Yin yoga teacher.

Be introduced to a way of deep self-care and healing for yourself, while learning how to show the way and guide others to find their way of healing through this beautiful tradition of going within - in the stillness of the body, in the silence of the mind.

Daily schedule

• 07:00 - 08:00 Meditation, kirtan, and satsang
• 08:00 - 08:30 Pranayama
• 08:30 - 09:30 Yin asana practice
• Breakfast/rest/self-study
• 12:00 - 14:30 Asana lab part 1 (hands-on adjustments, props, and alignment), teaching skills and methods, lunch, rest/self-study
• 16:30 - 18:30 Philosophy / Yin asana afternoon practice, anatomy/ asana lab/meditation
• Documentary time
• Dinner/rest/self-study