Yin Yoga asks us to pay attention to what changes when we slow down. The shape of a posture matters, but so do the person practising it, the support they need, the time spent there and the quality of their attention.
This 50-hour training with Madhura Bhagwat brings together practical Yin teaching, functional anatomy, fascia studies and the contemplative dimensions of yoga. Through the Somāntra approach, you will explore the body as responsive and individual, while developing the judgement to adapt a practice rather than impose a fixed shape.
All 50 taught hours of this Scotland training take place in person.
Supporting online materials are included from 26 February to 17 September 2028 to help you prepare and revisit the teaching. They are additional resources, not a replacement for any of the in-person hours.
The Somāntra Approach to Yin
Somāntra brings anatomical study into conversation with lived experience and yogic inquiry.
You will study tension, compression, skeletal variation and connective tissue while also considering breath, attention, stillness and the way you communicate with students.
Fascial-line models can help generate questions about movement and sensation. They are not a map that predicts exactly what every student will feel. The training uses them alongside direct observation and individual adaptation. Research supports anatomical continuity in some proposed chains, but their functional implications remain an area of study.
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Why Yin Yoga Matters Today
Modern bodies are often caught in contradiction.
Many people are overstimulated yet exhausted. Sedentary yet tense. Flexible in some places, compressed in others. Strong externally, but disconnected internally.
Yin Yoga offers a necessary counterbalance.
It gives us a way to:
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slow down without collapsing
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work with tissue without force
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sit with sensation without rushing past it
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understand the body beyond performance
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develop patience, perception, and regulation
In a culture that rewards constant movement, Yin Yoga creates the conditions for depth. Not through intensity, but through duration, attention, and intelligent adaptation.
This is one of the reasons Yin Yoga has become such an important and relevant practice for modern practitioners, teachers, therapists, and students seeking a more sustainable relationship with their body and mind.
What Makes This Yin Yoga Training Different
Many Yin Yoga trainings focus on pose libraries, meridian maps, or broad inspirational language without giving enough attention to the practical and anatomical complexity of the practice.
This training goes further.
It explores Yin Yoga through the lens of:
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functional anatomy
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fascial studies
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compression and tension
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skeletal individuality
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breath and nervous system response
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meditative attention
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teaching methodology and safe facilitation
You will not only learn how to shape a class.
You will learn how to understand why a pose works differently in different bodies, when to modify or change direction, how to observe signs of over-efforting, and how to teach Yin Yoga in a way that is thoughtful rather than formulaic.
This training is designed to build discernment.
Training Format
The in-person training is scheduled for 9 | 10 | 16 | 17 September 2028.
You will practise, observe, discuss and teach together, with direct guidance and feedback from Madhura.
The training covers:
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posture families and their variations
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props and support
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functional anatomy
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tension and compression
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fascia and proposed fascial lines
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sequencing
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breath and meditative attention
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teaching language and
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practical facilitation.
Supporting online course access:
From 26 February until 17 September 2028, you will have access to supporting online lessons and resources. You can use these to prepare for the September training and revisit course concepts.
Online access ends on 17 September 2028 and is not lifetime access.
These resources do not count towards the 50 in-person taught hours.
What You Will Study
1. Foundations of Yin Yoga You will study what Yin Yoga is, how it differs from dynamic or muscular forms of yoga, and why long-held passive loading affects the body and mind differently. We will look at the purpose and method of Yin Yoga, and how this practice has evolved in the modern yoga world.
2. Yin and Yang as Functional Principles Rather than reducing Yin and Yang to vague ideas, we will look at them as meaningful principles of balance, contrast, and relationship. This includes how Yin Yoga complements more active forms of movement and how stillness serves as an essential counterpart to effort.
3. Fascia and Connective Tissue A key part of this training is understanding fascia and connective tissue. You will study how Yin Yoga interacts with the deeper structures of the body, including why long-duration holds affect tissue quality, hydration, adaptability, and resilience differently from shorter muscular work.
4. Functional Anatomy and Skeletal Variation One of the most important aspects of teaching Yin Yoga safely is understanding that bodies are not uniform. This training introduces functional anatomy and the role of skeletal individuality. You will begin to understand why the same posture can feel completely different from one person to another, and why rigid alignment rules are often not helpful in Yin Yoga.
5. Tension, Compression, and Range You will learn how to distinguish between tension and compression, and why this matters in Yin Yoga. This is one of the most essential skills in the training, as it directly affects how you adapt poses and support students without pushing them into shapes that do not serve them.
6. Breath, Stillness, and Internal Response Yin Yoga is not just a physical practice. It is also a practice of internal observation. We will explore how breath, stillness, discomfort, resistance, and attention all interact in a Yin practice, and how these experiences influence the nervous system and the mental-emotional landscape of the student.
7. Meditative Qualities of Yin Yoga This training also recognises Yin as a contemplative practice. You will explore the relationship between long-held postures, inwardness, patience, and mindfulness, and how Yin Yoga can support meditative awareness without turning the class into vague “wellness language.”
8. Yin Yoga Poses and Variations You will study a broad range of Yin postures, their purpose, their common challenges, and how to modify them intelligently. Rather than memorising shapes, you will learn how to understand the intent behind the posture and how to adapt it according to the body in front of you.
9. Props, Adaptations, and Support Props in Yin Yoga are not decorative. They are tools for access, support, and precision. You will learn how to use props appropriately, when to add support, when to remove it, and how to help students find a version of the practice that is sustainable and useful.
10. Sequencing and Class Design You will learn how to structure a Yin Yoga class with more intelligence. This includes pose selection, energetic pacing, class themes, transitions, peak shapes, counterposes, and how to build classes for different populations and intentions.
11. Teaching Language and Space Holding Teaching Yin Yoga well requires more than anatomical knowledge. It also requires the ability to guide without over-speaking, hold silence without discomfort, and create a safe and grounded environment for students who may encounter emotional, mental, or physical responses during longer holds.
12. Yin Yoga in Modern Context We will also explore how Yin Yoga can be relevant in modern life, including its relationship to stress, overstimulation, sedentary living, recovery, self-regulation, and sustainable movement practice.
Who This Training Is For
This training is suitable for:
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yoga teachers wanting to deepen their understanding of Yin Yoga
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students who want a more intelligent and embodied relationship with the practice
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movement practitioners interested in fascia and functional anatomy
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teachers wanting to broaden their repertoire responsibly
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individuals drawn to slower, more reflective forms of practice
You do not need to be highly flexible to take this course.
In fact, flexibility is not the point.
What matters is curiosity, sincerity, and a willingness to study with attention.
Assessment and Certification
Attendance at all scheduled in-person sessions is expected. Attendance below 90% of the scheduled in-person teaching hours results in unsuccessful completion.
Meeting the attendance threshold alone does not guarantee a certificate. You must also complete and pass the required practical work and assessments.
These may include:
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short written reflections
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a class plan or sequence outline
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a practical teaching assessment
Upon successful completion, you will receive a 50-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training certificate suitable for continuing education and professional development or a step towards 350hr Somāntra pathway.
What You Will Receive
As part of this training, you will receive:
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50 hours of face-to-face Yin Yoga Teacher Training in Scotland
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Practical study of postures, props and individual adaptations
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Opportunities to practise teaching and receive feedback
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Supporting online learning resources from 26 February to 17 September 2028
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Assessment guidance and a certificate after successful completion
What You Will Need
For the online portion, you will need:
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a reliable internet connection
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a device for accessing course material
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a quiet space for study and practice
For practical work, it is useful to have:
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yoga blocks
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blankets
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a bolster or firm cushions
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a strap
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wall space
Adaptations can always be made based on what you have available.
Training Outcomes
By the end of the training, you will be able to:
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understand the purpose and principles of Yin Yoga
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differentiate Yin Yoga from other slower practices
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teach Yin postures with greater intelligence and adaptability
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recognise the role of tension, compression, and skeletal variation
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use props appropriately and effectively
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structure Yin Yoga classes with more confidence and coherence
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teach with greater sensitivity, clarity, and presence
Dates
Course period: 26 February–17 September 2028
In-person dates: 9, 10, 16 and 17 September 2028
Course Fees
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Early Bird: £720 (limited spaces) until 30th September 2027
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Full Investment: £920
*2.5% service fee applicable to the total at checkout.
Spaces are intentionally limited to ensure depth and individual attention.
Alternate Payment Methods:- PayPal - madhurabhagwat6@gmail.com Bank Transfer Madhura Bhagwat Sort Code - 832543 Account No. - 15856419 Bank - RBS * If using PayPal or Bank Transfer, kindly make sure to email connect@theyoganerds immediately after making the transfer. Your spot will only be confirmed once we send you an email of successfully receiving your payment.
Book Your Spot
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Checkout our Online Yin Yoga Teacher Training
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Sat 26 FebOnline training with Zoom SessionsStudy Yin Yoga through the Somāntra Approach: flexible online learning, four live Zoom sessions, practical teaching skills and a deeper exploration of fascia, breath and awareness.
Frequently asked questions
About Madhura
Director of The Yoga Nerds & Move with Madhura
E-RYT 500, YACEP | Yoga Therapist | Ayurveda Consultant
Madhura Bhagwat is a yoga educator, teacher trainer, and founder of The Yoga Nerds, known for her nuanced and uncompromising approach to teaching yoga beyond the physical. With nearly two decades of experience and roots in a traditional yogic lineage, her work bridges classical philosophy with modern understanding of movement, anatomy, and the nervous system, alongside an academic background in politics, law, and business studies.
Her teaching is not about performance or aesthetics, but about awareness, integrity, and depth. Drawing from yoga philosophy, embodied wisdom arts, and subtle teachings rooted in traditions such as the Dasha Mahāvidyā, alongside fascia-informed movement, breathwork, and restorative practices, she guides students and teachers towards a more intelligent, embodied, and sustainable way of practising and teaching.
Madhura teaches internationally and is committed to preserving the essence of yoga while making it relevant to the realities of modern life, allowing space for both linear learning and non-linear, lived experience to unfold.
