Yin Yoga is a therapeutic yoga practice which benefits the bones, joints, muscles, fascia and the nervous system. It derives its knowledge from the Hatha yoga and Chinese Medicine traditions and is the closest to the most ancient descriptions of yoga.

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It should be practised by those keen on dynamic styles such as vinyasa, in order to bring balance to their body and nervous system. It's suitable for practitioners of all levels, from fitness freaks to bedridden patients. It can benefit all these populations by improving the following conditions: -muscular pain -muscular stiffness -joint stiffness -joint pain -back pain -insomnia -anxiety -chronic fatigue -MS and other inflammatory neurological disorders and many more.

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Yin yoga emphasises the qualities of the earth element, that is stability, rooting, grounding, nourishment and regeneration.

Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic style of hatha yoga that emphasises the conscious connection of breath and movement. It is a form of movement meditation that also builds strength and stamina. Because the postures change often, it enhances mental focus and is suitable for people who find it hard to stay focused in slower hatha yoga classes. This makes this style increasingly popular in the modern, fast-paced times, where our minds are used to a constant flow and stimuli. Also, because this practice generates a lot of internal heat, it is a great tool in achieving personal transformation and letting go of anything that doesn’t serve us anymore. Vinyasa yoga emphasises the qualities of the fire element, that is heat, intensity, focus and transformation. From a teaching perspective, this style requires a thorough knowledge of anatomy and a great amount of creativity in designing new sequences of asanas.

Mindfulness meditation is a way of perceiving our external and internal worlds in a focused and nonjudgemental way. It can consist of both the attitude with which we go about our daily activities and a formal meditation practice. It can be incorporated into any yoga class. A growing body of clinical research has proven that mindfulness has the power to reduce rumination (worry), emotional reactivity and stress, enhance working memory and focus, improve relationship satisfaction and many others. Mindfulness has also benefits for people who help others professionally, which is pertinent to yoga teachers. It can enhance compassion, empathy and counselling skills, as well as reduce stress. Whereas the Indian Tantra tradition has developed many meditation techniques, mindfulness can be practised formally and informally while doing daily activities and is also supported by modern clinical research.

Somatics is a term that describes body work methods which emphasise internal physical perception and experience. Therefore, yoga should be, at its core, a form of somatics.

Unfortunately, many modern yoga styles over-emphasize the external look of postures (alignment) and the achievement of new, advanced asanas. This can lead to excessive tension in the body and mind and also to injuries.

In this module, you will practice release methods that allow your body and mind to move naturally and spontaneously. We will learn to move with less effort and without self-directed violence. This will help you release tension in your muscles and joints and unlearn harmful movement and mental patterns. These methods can be practised on their own, or incorporated into Hatha and Vinyasa yoga classes. They emphasise the qualities of the water element, that is cooling, flow, soothing and adaptation.

Conscious breathing practice (pranayama) is the cornerstone of hatha yoga. Traditionally, pranayama is taught to people who have achieved a certain level of mastery in their asana practice. This is because pranayama is a very subtle method that requires the mind and the body to be still. Most intermediate and advanced practitioners and teachers feel the need to incorporate more pranayama into their practice because of the mental and physical benefits of this practice. Pranayama can bring the feeling of joy and bliss and has many physiological benefits as well. Among others, it can balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and improve the functioning of the heart. In this module, we will also practice the water cleansing practices(kriyas, shatkarmas). Pranayama emphasises the qualities of the air element, that is lightness, refreshing and clarity.