FIVE ELEMENTS YIN YOGA & MEDITATION
50-HOUR TEACHER TRAINING
IN BHAKTI KUTIR, GOA
13 February - 19 February 2027

​1. Foundations of Yin Yoga

Build a practical understanding of the Yin approach and the teaching choices that support it.

We explore:

• The development and underlying principles of modern Yin Yoga.

• The relationship between Yin and Yang in movement, stillness and daily life.

• Finding an appropriate level of sensation.

• Duration, stillness, transitions and rest between postures.

• The role of attention and breath during practice.

• Recognising when to modify, move or leave a posture.

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2. Functional Anatomy and Individual Adaptation

Learn to work with the body in front of you.

Through posture workshops and observation, we explore skeletal variation, joint movement, target areas, tension and compression. You will practise using props and alternative shapes to support different bodies and intentions.

We also consider how comfort, attention and a sense of choice influence the experience of stillness. The emphasis is on clear communication and responsive teaching.

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3. Foundations of Chinese Medicine

Develop an accessible understanding of the concepts that support our elemental exploration.

Topics include:

• Yin and Yang as changing, interdependent qualities.

• Qi within the traditional Chinese Medicine framework.

• Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

• The generating and controlling cycles.

• Traditional organ systems and their associated meridian pathways.

• Relationships between the elements, seasons and emotional qualities.

We distinguish traditional energetic maps from anatomical structures and use each framework with clear language and an understanding of its purpose.

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4. A Journey Through the Five Elements

Each element is explored through a guided Yin practice, theory, meridian awareness, meditation, journaling and teaching exercises.

Wood — Growth and Direction

Explore the themes of movement, flexibility and direction, alongside the traditional Liver and Gallbladder meridian relationships. Reflect on how intention and adaptability can shape both practice and teaching.

Fire — Warmth and Connection

Explore presence, joy and relationship through practice and meditation. Introduce the traditional Heart and Small Intestine relationships, with an overview of the Pericardium and San Jiao within the Fire element.

Earth — Nourishment and Stability

Explore support, steadiness and the capacity to receive. Study the traditional Spleen and Stomach meridian relationships and develop classes around grounding, nourishment and integration.

Metal — Breath and Letting Go

Explore space, boundaries and release through the traditional Lung and Large Intestine relationships. Practise using breath awareness, pauses and silence to support a clear and spacious class.

Water — Stillness and Inner Resources

Explore rest, quiet attention and the relationship between effort and ease. Introduce the traditional Kidney and Bladder meridian relationships and reflect on how to make room for recovery within daily life.

These themes are invitations for inquiry. Students are encouraged to notice their own experience without expecting a particular emotional response.

5. Meridian Awareness and Posture Exploration

Become familiar with the principal meridian pathways used in Yin Yoga teaching.

Through diagrams, guided self-mapping and optional partner exercises, you will explore how traditional pathways can inform attention and sequencing. Any touch-based activity is consent-led, with an individual alternative available.

Posture workshops connect this study with functional anatomy. You will learn to explain a physical target area alongside an optional meridian theme, and to adapt the shape when needed.

6. Meditation, Breath and Reflective Practice

Develop familiarity with meditation through regular, guided practice.

We explore body awareness, natural breath observation, simple breathing practices and periods of silence. Journaling offers another way to notice patterns and integrate learning.

You will practise giving concise meditation instructions, allowing quiet and offering alternatives for students who find stillness challenging.

7. Element-Informed Sequencing and Daily Rhythms

Bring the course material together in coherent, adaptable classes.

Learn to choose an intention, select appropriate postures, plan transitions, offer variations and include time for rest. Explore how an elemental theme can guide a class without overwhelming it with explanation.

We also consider seasonal awareness in relation to local conditions and individual circumstances. Students develop simple home-practice plans that respond to their own environment, routines and needs.

8. Teaching Practice and Integration

Build confidence through short teaching exercises, observation and constructive feedback.

You will develop and share an element-informed Yin sequence, explaining your intention, posture choices, adaptations and meditation approach.

Teaching practice includes:

• Clear, welcoming instructions.

• Language that encourages choice and self-observation.

• Thoughtful pacing and use of silence.

• Prop options and accessible alternatives.

• Consent, professional boundaries and the scope of a yoga teacher.

• Reflection on feedback and continued development.