The first module covers fascia and connective tissue, the anatomy of joints, the theory of exercise, aesthetic vs functional alignment, and why yin poses are named differently. We also begin our discussion on meridians and chakras. The asana practices include these 60 min practices: classic yin yoga, yin with yang transitions, intro to yang yoga, and a guided yin meditation.  

"I really loved this discussion! To me Yin is less about thinking and perfecting alignment, breath, dristi, bandha... and much more about working intuitively with our own bodies... I really love how you add more and more tiny layers of available variation for us to try all the way through our training.For me personally, this course is like stepping out of rigidity and into acceptance, allowance." - Carrie T.

Module 1 Guided Practice Videos

• Classic Yin Yoga Sequence (65 min)
• Introductory Yang Yoga Sequence (60 min)
• Yin with Yang Transitions (57 min)
• Instinctive Meditation: Welcoming (17 min)

Module 1 Learning Videos

• Intro to Yin & Yang (8 min)
• Fascia & Connective Tissue (14 min)
• Anatomy of a Joint (11 min)
• The Theory of Exercise (11 min)
• Aesthetic vs Functional Alignment (8 min)
• The Names of Yin Poses (4 min)
• Intro to Energy, Meridians & Chakras (20 min)
• Intro to Yang Yoga (4 min)
• Intro to Instinctive Meditation (8 min)

Assignments

• Make an audio recording of yourself leading a full body yin session, just for yourself(script available), then practice with your recording. You will not need to submit the recording, but you will fill out a form to summarize your experience.
• Read The Art of Teaching Yin Yoga, Pages 1-22

This module dives deep into anatomy and proportion looking at skeletal variation in the hips, spine, upper body and ankles. We also build skills on using language in yin. The asana practices are 31-80 minutes and include yin dragons & saddles, yin & warrior flow, wall yin, yin/yang fusion, and a guided yin meditation for healing rest.

"Fascinating! I just love seeing the differences in the bones and learning how that impacts movement. Thank you for articulating this. I will be looking at students much differently now." -Karen W.

Module 2 Guided Practice Videos

• Yin Practice: Dragons & Saddles (65 min)
• Yin Yang Yoga: Warrior Flow Into Yin (50 min)
• Wall Yin (53 min)
• Yin Yang Fusion (80 min)
• Healing Rest Yin Meditation (31 min)

Module 2 Learning Videos

• The Movements of the Joints (8 min)
• Skeletal Variation: Intro & Upper Body (26 min)
• Skeletal Variation: Hips & Spine (26 min)
• Skeletal Variation: Proportion (12 min)
• Skeletal Variation: Ankles & Squats (10 min)
• Skeletal Variation Roundup (22 min)
• Some Language Tips (5 min)

Assignments

• With an adult friend or a fellow student, practice Hands-On Yin *or* teach the Full Body Yin sequence (this may be done over zoom). You will not need to submit a recording, Just fill out a form summarizing your experience.
• Read The Art of Teaching Yin Yoga pp. 37-47

Learn the functional approach to yin, broken down into segments on the thigh, the torso, the pelvis and the shoulders. Learn how yin poses are constructed as part of the system of seven archetypes. There’s a guided chakra meditation plus three 60-75 minute guided asana sequences: yin for the hips, yin for the spine, and flying dragon yang flow into yin.

"I enjoyed and learned so much from your brief anatomy videos. The 'less is more' approach really works for me - I’ve always found it really hard to absorb anatomy and relate it to my teaching, but this really works." -Kitty M.

Week 3 Guided Practice Videos

• Yin Yoga for the Hips (74 min)
• Yin Yoga for the Spine (77 min)
• Yang Yoga: Flying Dragon Flow Into Yin
• Intuitive Chakra Scan Meditation (32 min)

Week 3 Learning Modules 

Intro to the Functional Approach (9 min)

• Target Areas of the Thigh (20 min)
• Thigh & Meridians Roundup (7 min)
• Target Areas of the Torso & Arms (15)
• Torso & Arms Meridian Roundup (7 min)
• The Tilt of the Pelvis (3 min)
• Shoelace Archetype (22 min)
• Dragonfly Archetype (15 min)
• Caterpillar Archetype (19 min)
• Twist Archetype (17 min)
• Saddle Archetype (36 min)
• Dragon Archetype (12 min)
• Downward Dog Archetype (15 min)

Week 3 Assignments

• Yin Assists (with an adult friend) or Yin with Sandbags (solo assignment)
• Read The Art of Teaching Yin Yoga, pp. 23-36 and 48-52

The final module is dedicated to meridians in yin yoga, with segments looking at the energy channels in the legs, torso and arms. Here we also have a robust discussion on yin sequencing, and a tutorial on teaching yin to inflexible people and older adults. Guided practices are 30-85 minutes in length and include upper body yin, yang yoga animal parade, yin yang fusion, and our finale – the functional yoga extravaganza practice!

"This whole lesson on the spine - wow - just makes my body feel different!! Lots of sensations throughout but by the end I just feel so much new energy!" – Josie P.

Week 4 Guided Practice Videos

• Upper Body Yin Yoga (70 min)
• Yin for Inflexible People (85 min)
• Yang Yoga: Animal Parade (32 min)
• Yin Yang Fusion 2 (63 min)
• Functional Yoga Extravaganza (81 min)

Week 4 Video Learning Modules

• Meridians in Yin Yoga (11 min)
• Meridians in the Legs (13 min)
• Meridians in the Torso (11 min)
• Meridians in the Arms (8 min)
• Yin Sequencing (36 min)

Assignments

• Read The Art of Teaching Yin Yoga, pp. 33-69
• Read "Tech Tips for Teaching Online" (article)
• Read "Yin Teacher FAQ" (article)
• Final Practice Teaching Session with a fellow student or friend, on Zoom or in person, 40-60 min.

Yes, yoga practitioners who are not yoga teachers may absolutely participate in this course.

Please note, this yin certification course does not fulfill Yoga Alliance's Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) status for new teachers, since it's not a full 200 hour course. That said, RYT status is not required by law to teach yin yoga. So if you want to teach Yin Yoga without becoming an RYT first, this course may be a suitable solution.

Without RYT status you may. not get hired at yoga studios, but if you're primarily interested in teaching your own independent classes, then this program will suit your needs. 

If you don't plan to teach Yin Yoga at all and are primarily interested in deepening your personal practice, you will also have the option to skip the practice teaching assignments. If you skip the practice teaching assignments, you'll receive a certificate of completion for 40 hours (instead of 50).

The course curriculum includes 50 hours of video lessons, reading and homework assignments. These 50 hours are divided into four modules of approximately 12.5 hours each.

The four modules can be completed in as little as 8 days or as many as 12 months. Once you enroll, you'll have a choice of how to pace yourself:

Moderate (default): 30 days
Complete one module each week. Attend 1 live session, and watch recordings of the past 4 live sessions.

Turbo: 8 days
Complete one module every two days. Watch recordings of the past 5 live sessions.

Relaxed: 4 months
Complete one module each month. Join five upcoming live sessions (or watch the recordings).

Whichever plan you sign up for, you'll ultimately have 12 months to complete the course.

A minimum of 5 group sessions is required to complete your certification. Live sessions are offered every month throughout the 12-month certification period. If you can't attend live, you may watch the recordings of 5 past sessions. If you plan to complete the course in 30 days, you will be able to fulfill this requirement by watching the recordings of 5 past live sessions. 

For more than half of the training hours you'll be on your mat following guided yin yoga, yang flow and meditation routines (video and audio). The rest of the hours are a blend of pre-recorded video learning modules, live online sessions, practice-teaching exercises, and reading through chapters the Yin Yoga Teacher's Handbook.

The Yin Yoga Teacher Training is a 50 hour course. Here's what that means:

Whether you're already a yoga teacher or not, you'll receive a 50-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training certificate upon completion.

If you're considering applying for a job as a yin yoga teacher, this certificate will prove you've had 50 hours of training. Keep in mind, however, that some employers require a minimum RYT-200 certification, which must be earned separately at a Registered Yoga School (RYS).

If you don't plan to work at a yoga studio and will instead teach your own independent classes in a public space, a rented space, or in a private home, then your 50-hour yin yoga certificate is adequate, and RYT-200 status is not necessary.

Since nobody owns Yin Yoga, no certificate is actually required to teach it at all – but if you're seeking a solid structure within which to start guiding yin, this course provides the skills and training to do so.

For yoga teachers who are registered with Yoga Alliance (at the RYT-200 level or higher), completion of this YYTT will provide 50 Continuing Education credits (CE's) for a specialty in Yin Yoga.The CE's you receive for this course will prove you've had in-depth training as Yin Yoga Teacher. The course also meet YA's minimum CE contact hours required every 3 years.

There's a 7 day 100% money-back guarantee with your enrollment. All it takes is an email to get your full refund - no questions asked, no hard feelings.

In addition to reading assignments from the training book, you will have one assignment per module. (If you don't plan to teach yoga professionally, you may skip these assignments, in which case you'll receive a 40-hour certificate.)

Here's a look at what's required for the assignments.

• The Module 1 assignment is done on your own. You’ll just use your phone to make an audio recording of yourself reading through the script (or improvising instead, if you’re comfortable doing so). You will then practice with the recording.
• The Module 2 is a choice of Hands-On Yin (done with another person) or Yin With Sandbags (done by yourself).
• The Module 3 assignment is Yin Assists, which you practice on another person. This can be the same person as the previous assignment.
• For the 1st, 2nd and 3rd assignments, you'll submit a form summarizing your experience and what you learned.
• The final assignment is to submit a video of yourself teaching a Yin Yoga class. This class can be performed on your own or with real students (any friend or volunteer, in-person or on Zoom). You'll choose whether to create your own yin yoga class sequence or use the basic yin yoga class script that will be provided. You'll record the class with a smartphone, video camera or webcam, and you'll upload the video file using the instructions provided.