The Elemental Body is a Yin Yoga Teacher Training and Retreat, held beneath the embrace of the Japanese Alps during late spring, the peak of rose season and bright, lush green in Japan.
Over five days together, we will journey through the five elements of taoism, practicing yin yoga, meditation and pranayama, eating local, seasonal macrobiotic meals, bathing in mineral rich natural onsen baths in the evenings and rising to the sound of the river.
This is a very small group training and mentoring of less than ten people, where everyone is seen, supported and has the ability to ask questions and receive direct guidance. You will also receive complimentary access to The Daily Rest Online Yin Immersion as part of this training and retreat.
The focus of this training is cultivating a personal and teaching practice connected to the five elements of taoism, the inner & outer seasons of life, as well as infusing poetry, storytelling and creativity into your teaching and practice through this lens.
The intention for this retreat is to explore teaching and deepening our relationship to Yin in a yin way. With a small group, a setting deep in nature and plenty of space for privacy and quiet reflection, we have the opportunity to embody and cultivate the (often undernourished) yin within, so we can then pour it back out into our homes, our loved ones, our students and our art.
This is an exploration of Yin as a medicinal healing modality and a creative practice. The more we embody the essence of yin through practice, the more we find ourselves naturally attuning to the seasons, noticing and balancing the small shifts and details within, and all around us.
We will be joined by Fumiko, a local acupuncturist and moxibustion therapist and artisan, to further deepen our understanding of the elements and taoist philosophy. We will learn through lecture, practical workshops, observation of the natural world, journalling, sharing and of course, the yin practice itself.
Sample Daily Flow
8:30am-10am Morning Practice
10:30am Seasonal Macrobiotic Breakfast
12pm-2:15pm Teacher Training Lecture & Practical
2:15-3pm Nature, Tea & Snack Break
3-5pm Afternoon Practice & TT Session
5:30pm Seasonal Macrobiotic Dinner & Desert
7pm Onsen & Quiet Time
Schedule may change on certain days due to herbal sauna, or guest workshops.
Every moment as a moving prayer…
The location for our training, is part of the training itself. Our retreat home and practice space is completely surrounded by trees, flowers, shrines, mountains, rivers and a thriving herb garden. This is a healing centre established on seasonal rituals and rhythms for decades. The kitchen is known for having some of the best macrobiotic food in Japan. Every evening there is time to soak in the mineral rich spring baths and with lights out at 9pm, the stars shine bright without a hint of light pollution, allowing us to sync deeply with nature and become more absorbent to all we are taking in.
Our focus, at a glance:
Yin Yoga experienced through the Five Elements of Chinese Medicine
Teaching with the inner and outer seasons of nature & life
Creating a poetic practice and finding your unique style: threading storytelling, poetry, myth, music, philosophy and/or silence into the container of a Yin class or practice.
Restorative Yin vs. Spicy Yin: How to sequence classes that challenge, and classes that nourish (and why).
Bringing breath-work, meditation and movement into the container of Yin.
A deeper exploration…
Throughout this training, we will explore the elements in great detail, including:
How to target the meridians through asana, how to connect pranayama, meditations and teaching themes to each element, drawing on your unique interests, knowledge and personality. We will also explore acupressure points, herbs, foods, and seasonal practices.
How to sequence and curate Yin classes for different moods, and why. We will explore sequencing both Restorative Yin, Spicy Yin as well as Yang to Yin practices.
Please note: this training will be less focused on anatomy and fascia and more on the seasonal, energetic and artistic elements of Yin Yoga.
Who is this training for?
This teacher training is open to anyone who feels called. You do not have to be a yoga teacher, or have completed any previous trainings to be a part of this training. We ask that you come with curiosity and a willingness to be open with the group: it does not matter if you’ve been teaching for a decade, or are new to the practice. We expect a diverse group of experience - this is where the magic happens.
All participants who attend the retreat in full will receive a certificate of completion from The Daily Rest. All participants to the retreat, will receive complimentary access to The Elemental Body online yin immersion, valued at 1800 AUD.
Please note will be the only yin teacher training and online immersion for 2026.
Pricing
$3 400 AUD until December 1st, 2025 (or sold out)
$3 6000 AUD thereafter.
A deposit of $620 AUD (approx. $405 USD / 345 EURO) is required to secure your spot (and the early bird price).
Please note all deposits are strictly non-refundable (unless you can find a replacement for your spot) and collected by our partner here in Japan, Idea Tours. Payments are made in three installments, and due in full by March 18th, 2026. Please read our terms and conditions before enrolling.
Included:
5 nights accomodation in single occupancy rooms (with a writing desk & nature views) *option for a twin share, please email for details
Twice daily macrobiotic, seasonal meals made with local produce
Herbal sauna experience & special guest practice
Daily onsen baths
Journal & teacher training resource workbook
Herb Tea, Japanese Tea & Coffee
Yin Yoga teaching certification from The Daily Rest
Travel insurance for the days of the retreat
Complimentary access to The Elemental Body Online Immersion (valued at $1800 AUD).