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January - March 2021


Are you seeking a well-rounded, practical, well-structured understanding of Yin yoga to deepen your practice or teach?

This teacher training provides a wholesome foundation to Yin yoga, by uniquely combining the Traditional Chinese Medicine, functional movement, as well as fascia and somatic yoga approaches. 

With these tools in hand you can find your own Yin path in a safe and meaningful way. Last but not least, this training integrates self-inquiry to help you refine what the Yin means for you, how it can enrich your daily life beyond the mat, and what your teaching is truly about. 
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Through lectures, experimentation in your body, practice sessions, in-depth posture labs and homework for personal inquiries, you will explore the wholesome effect this potent practice has on the body, mind and spirit.

The last module is a residential immersion retreat in a beautiful location by a lake near Berlin. It provides a comfortable and contained setting to integrate the knowledge learnt so far, to practice teaching with each other, and to explore what teaching yin means beside sequences, and how to share your unique voice, confidently and with ease. 
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DATES & MODULES: 
January 22-24  Western anatomy & Yin yoga (online)
February 5-7  Yin yoga, fascia & somatics (online)
February 19 - 21 Yin yoga, subtle body & introduction to TCM (online)
March 4-7, Yin yoga and self-inquiry & teaching Yin
(Immersion retreat at Yogahaus am Stichlinsee)

 
SESSION TIMES: 
ONLINE: Fridays 20:00 – 21:30, Saturdays 13:30 – 19:00, Sundays 9:30 – 17:00
IMMERSION RETREAT: Thursday 4pm - Sunday 11am 


​The theory part of the training covers: 
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Each training module will consist of daily Yin yoga practices, lectures, interactive embodiment exercises/inquiries, group work, discussions and homework assignments. Your further journey into practicing and teaching Yin yoga will be supported by a comprehensive 100 page manual and suggestions for further reading materials and resources. The 70-hour training consists of  60 hours in person sessions and 10 hours of homework assignments between the sessions.

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Module 1
Yin yoga according to Western Anatomy
(Functional approach to yoga)​

  • The principles of Yin yoga
  • Tension versus compression
  • Sensation based alignment, functional approach, skeletal variation
  • The science behind Yin yoga
  • How to teach the core Yin postures safely, offer variations and use props
You will get a solid foundation and understanding of the anatomy of yin poses via functional approach to yoga (Paul Grilley method) by introducing the 7 archetypal pose families and learning about target areas. You'll understand skeletal restrictions and anatomical aspects of each pose and will learn how to adapt and use variations and props to make the practice suit different bodies.




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Module 2
Yin yoga, fascia and somatics
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  • Understanding fascia and its role in our health
  • Why fascia, somatics & yin yoga support each other : awareness, release and agency
  • Fascia lines and related poses/movements
  • Yin sequencing according to a fascia approach
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Understanding fascia, its qualities and role in the whole-body network (mind-body) in terms of movement, postural habits, chronic pain and healing potential is pivotal for any type of heath, yoga or movement related education. It helps deepen our connection to what we experience and how we feel, and our ability to positively impact this experience. 
This module will provide you with knowledge and first-hand experience of the role and qualities of the fascia in the body, and how you can easily add this dimension to a yin practice. This will also help you understand why the meridian approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine is so beneficial, both in acupuncture or Yin. 
Module 3
Yin yoga, subtle body, myofascial meridians and introduction to Chinese Medicine 
  • Taoist philosophy and yin-yang theory
  • 5 element theory
  • 3 treasures of Taoism (Qi, Jing, Shen)
  • Myofascial Meridians
  • The organs, energy channels and their connection to yin yoga practice​
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a vast and fascinating field that we will provide a quick introductory guide to, so you understand the connections with yin yoga. You’ll discover how Taoist philosophy can enrich and inform your own practice, your teaching and your general comprehension of health and balanced living. 
Module 4
IMMERSION RETREAT at Yogahaus am Stechlinsee
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The last module is a residential immersion retreat in a beautiful location by a lake near Berlin. It provides a comfortable and contained setting to integrate the knowledge learnt so far, to practice teaching with each other, and to explore what teaching yin means beside sequences, and how to share your unique voice, confidently and with ease. 
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Yin yoga & self-inquiry

  • Practical Yin tools for everyday challenges
  • Mini Yin/somatics sequences for daily life, for your own well-being and that of your students
  • Integrating psychosomatics, Yin and nervous-system regulation for healing, learning and implementing change

This YTT approaches yin yoga as a contemplative practice that we can take off the mat, by bringing together self-inquiry and sensory awareness into everyday life. We’ll explore in theory and practice how yin yoga builds self-awareness and activates our capacity for self-healing and agency, and explore yin tools that help on and off the mat.

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Teaching yin yoga

  • Sequencing: anatomy, meridian theory and fascial lines approaches
  • What it means to hold space: using voice, cueing and language to effectively guide students
  • Teaching practice
  • Caring for yourself whilst caring for others: Basic self-care for yoga teachers

Teaching Yin appears simpler than other styles, but its power is in the way we are able to create a space for students to relax into, through clear, easeful, confident guidance and poetry. 
This module is dedicated to giving you guidelines for effective and easy to remember sequences, but also an understanding of how voice, delivery and language help students ease into the practice. 
And because feeling grounded and comfortable as a teacher is key to creating this space, we will also look at what you can do to take care of yourself. 
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Liina Tael and Valerie Hartwich are Berlin based teachers dedicated to yoga as a practice of inquiry to grow meaning and greater passion for life, as well as deeper understanding of self and others. Their approach is shaped by their combined background in yoga, psychology and sociology, bodywork and traditional Chinese Medicine in connection to Yin yoga.
Liina: Bachelor in Economics
Trained in Swedish and Deep tissue massage, myofacial release, Reiki 1 & 2, Thai massage
Yoga: early influencers John Ogilvie, Maria Kirsten, Judy Krupp (Byron Bay Yoga Center), Clive Sheridan (Asana, Yoga philosophy, meditation), Emil Wendel (Yoga Philosophy and pranayama). First yin training in 2011 with Sarah Powers, since 2014 training and collaborating annually with Sebastian Pucelle and Murielle Burellier (Paul Grilley lineage), Paul Grilley (online - anatomy, chakra theory and meditation), Jennifer O'Sullivan (Taoism and Yin yoga, online), Judith H. Lasater (Restorative Yoga, Experiential Anatomy). Currently studying online with Mollie McClelland (Embodied Anatomy), part of a mentoring program for yoga teachers with Catlin Casella. Early meditation background in Vipassana (Goenka), currently following the teaching of Adyashanti, Michael Stone, Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Loch Kelly, John J. Prendergast. And lastly my mentor in living with cycle awareness Ruby May.
Besides yoga, meditation and pranayama my path has been strongly shaped by conscious dance (5 rhythms, Soul Motion, Open Floor).
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Valerie: Bachelor in psychology, masters in Sociology and political philosophy. 
Trained in Deep tissue massage, Reiki 1, Myofascial release, Lymphatic drainage, Holistic massage. 
Yoga trained by Mollie McClelland, Gayle Poapst, David Emerson (Trauma CenterTrauma Sensitive Yoga), Daniela Meinl (Integral Fascia Yoga). Inspired and mentored by Naomi Absalom, Sianna Sherman, Tias Little, Raphan Kebe and Tatjana Mesar (Dynamic Mindfulness by Zen Yoga)
I also draw my inspiration from Feldenkrais, shamanic practices linked to movement for trauma release and holotropic breathwork.



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​If you want to join their in person or online classes before committing to the training, here are links to their teaching schedules: Liina  and Valerie. 

The training fee of 1300€ is payable in installments & includes:
  • all immersion retreat costs (food and accommodation), except travel
  • downloadable recordings of all online sessions
  • 100 page manual (pdf)
  • list of recommended resources for further study
  • ​​VAT​
FOR REGISTRATION AND QUESTIONS: 
e-mail Liina at liina.tael@gmail.com

TESTIMONIALS
I'm so glad that I did the yin yoga teacher training with Liina Tael and Valerie Hartwich. I had high expectations of this course - and it was even better than I expected! Both of them have a deep understanding of the key physical & spiritual aspects of the yin practice - and they're very passionate about sharing that knowledge with others. Their careful guidance created a really special atmosphere within the group and allowed everyone to learn and share and grow together.
Each person in the group was allowed and encouraged to explore and develop their own style of teaching, and there was a lot of focus placed on personal experiences and feelings. I learned so much - as a yoga practitioner, a teacher and a person. Thank you, Liina & Valerie!
    Marisa
​I truly enjoyed this course. I entered a realm of learning I had never previously explored and it was truly transformative. The techniques we learnt have profoundly informed my practice in general and the amount of deeply-set tension I have resolved is truly astonishing. Thank you Liina and Valerie!
    Anastasia
The yin training offered from Liina and Valerie was a wonderful experience and enrichment not only for yoga but for all the areas in life. Authenticity and care, lots of input, inspiration, knowledge, experience... I am grateful I have been a part of it, and thank you again for being so flexible and also letting space for the student to express himself.
    Fanny