A Yin Yoga Teacher Training

Nagano, Japan. May 18th-23rd, 2026.

SOLD OUT.

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.

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).

your questions, answered.

  • Our retreat location is remote and yet easily accessible.

    The closest major city is Matsumoto (a great place to spend a night or two before the retreat!) which is located about two hours on the limited express train from Tokyo.

    Trains run every hour from Shinjuku station directly to Matsumoto. At Matsumoto, you take a 20 minute local train to Azumino station, where you will be met!

    You will receive specific details on transportation before the retreat so please don’t worry - switch off and let us hold you!

  • Deposits are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable.

    Cancellations made anytime after eight weeks before the retreat commences are also strictly non refundable or transferable, unless you are able to find someone yourself to take your spot.

    By making your payment, you agree to these terms.

  • Interestingly, dietary restrictions are still somewhat uncommon in Japan. If you have any dietary restrictions, please do reach out via the contact form before making your deposit, so we can be sure it’s possible to accomodate your needs.

  • While it’s important to take care travelling wherever you are in the world, Japan is very safe for solo female travellers, and is well equipped for solo travel in general. We highly encourage to join this retreat solo! Most participants to our retreats do.

  • We will meet at approximately 3pm pn the 18th.

    We will finish at approximately 11:30am on the 23rd.

  • There is nothing special you need to bring!

  • Your retreat price includes insurance for the days you are on Retreat. This serves as a minimum safety measure for retreat participants. It provides basic coverage including:

    •⁠ ⁠Accident-related expenses (up to 1.5 million JPY per person)

    •⁠ ⁠Injury treatment expenses (up to 500,000 JPY per person)

    •⁠ ⁠Illness treatment expenses (up to 500,000 JPY per person)

    These are only applied during your retreat.

    We strongly recommend that each traveler obtains a comprehensive overseas travel insurance policy on their own, which offers broader and more reliable protection beyond the basic coverage provided by the travel agency.