Immerse yourself in the ancient wisdom of Chinese Medicine and Five Element Theory to transform your teaching, practice, and life. This unique training blends yin and yang yoga, hands-on anatomy, and meridian work with a modern understanding of fascia, all set in the serene beauty of an Italian hillside village.
Connect deeply with nature, enrich your teaching and practice self-care through movement, meditation, and daily practices inspired by the elements.
Chinese Medicine is a holistic system of health and healing that originated in ancient China and is largely based on observing the cycles of change in nature. It focuses on honoring the interconnectedness of life, maintaining balance within the body and mind, and being in harmony with one’s environment.
Chinese Medicine is based on concepts like Qi, Yin-Yang balance and the Five elements. According to these philosophies, each element and season brings forth its own alchemy, offering its gifts but also carrying its shadows. Like a mandala, this cyclical map is an expression of both unity and diversity.
The 5 elements are alive both around and in us;
they describe the movement of life and energy and
embody all the qualities we encounter in Nature.
” Through understanding the five Elements
we may begin to understand both Nature and ourselves”
J.R. Worsley
THIS TRAINING IS IDEAL FOR
The training offers a comprehensive, embodied and experiential overview of the core concepts of Chinese Medicine and Five Element Theory. These can be applied to yin and yang styles of yoga, various therapeutic practices, and can also promote general well-being and everyday healthy living.
- Yoga teachers looking to deepen their knowledge and practice
- Yin yoga teachers interested in a wider overview on Chinese Medicine and how to incorporate it with yoga
- Nature lovers
- Holistic health practitioners looking for a nature immersive retreat
- Yoga teachers wishing to connect with a wide variety of other experienced yoga teachers
- Any person who likes the connection to nature and wants to understand and deepen their relationship to it
- Anyone who loves the quiet of a countryside Italian village
- Anyone who wants to further specialize their offerings
- Health coaches
- Health practitioners
- Curious Yoga practitioners
- Kinesiologists, massage therapists, ….
IN THIS TRAINING YOU WILL LEARN
The core concepts of Chinese Medicine and their application in a yoga/movement practice:
- Overview of Chinese Medicine Theory
- YinYang theory
- Concept of Qi, Qi formation and types of Qi
- Vital Substances
The importance of fascia in movement and holistic well-being:
- Introduction to fascia anatomy
- Fascia lines as anatomical basis of acupoints and meridians
- Exploring the overlap between fascia lines and the Chinese Medicine meridian lines
Practical application of the Five Elements in movement, self-awareness and holistic health/living
- Sequencing and theming classes or your own practice around the Five elements
- Breathwork, visualization, and movement techniques inspired by each element.
- Techniques for emotional regulation and self-awareness.
- Coaching participants to discover their own teaching style within the TCM framework and how to combine TCM and yoga disciplines.
- How to incorporate acupressure points into yoga poses
Five Element theory
- Overview of the philosophy and principles of the Five Elements.
- Cultivating a theoretical and experiential understanding of the Five Elements and their dynamic relationships within the human body and the natural world.
- Anatomy of the Five Elements: organ systems and their relationships with each element.
- Exploring the emotional expressions and imbalances associated with each element.
- Seasonal influences and their impact on the body and mind.
- Embodied mapping of Chinese Medicine channel network: primary channels and sinew channels
- The main acupressure points, their functions and how to locate them
Emphasis on experiential learning through:
- Daily guided yoga practices and meditations to embody each element.
- Hands-on practice in locating and working with the meridian channels and key acupressure points.
- Nature-based activities to connect with elemental qualities directly.
WHAT MAKES THIS TRAINING UNIQUE AND PRACTICAL
TYPICAL TRAINING DAY
07.30 – 08.45 Morning yoga practice
09.00 – 10.15 Breakfast
10.30 – 13.00 Lecture
13.00 – 14.30 Lunch
14.45 – 16.30 Knowledge into practice:
afternoon workshop or trips to nature
16.30 – 18.45 Time for treatments, massages,
integration, walks, doing nothing
18.45 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 – Free time or an evening Activity
WHY WE CREATED THIS TRAINING
Liina and Madeleine’s paths converged in 2020—a transformative year when they each chose to leave the bustling city life behind and move to the Italian countryside. Both international yoga teachers, they discovered they also shared a passion for Chinese Medicine, nature, and holistic living. They are both dedicated to slowing down the daily tempo of life, working on their sustainable homesteads, and connecting with the stunning local mountains, rivers, and natural reserves—all of which perfectly resonate with and enhance the essential qualities of their practices.
ABOUT YOUR TEACHERS
Madeleine is a Chinese energetic practitioner and certified yoga teacher with a specialization in neuroscience. She left her life in Brussels, where she taught in prestigious yoga studios and renowned companies, to build a new life in Alvito with her partner and her son. Committed to living authentically, simply and connected to nature, Madeleine’s lifestyle deeply influences her yoga classes. Her holistic work is designed to help you be the best version of yourself through accessible and simple practices.
Liina is a yoga teacher and massage therapist. She has been teaching yoga for 18 years and led yoga teacher trainings for the last 6 years. She is originally from Estonia, she lived and taught yoga in Berlin for 10 years until in search for a simpler and quieter life she together with her husband and 2 dogs settled on the foothills of Abruzzo National Park in Italy.
Liina’s approach to yoga is non-dogmatic, grounded in both extensive study of various movement and meditation modalities and in her own personal journey.
TUITION & ACCOMMODATION
Early bird price until June 21
875€
afterwards
975€
The training fee includes:
- Manual printed and in PDF form
- 60 hours of training content via lectures, embodied learning, practice sessions, discussions, video tutorials
- Magical nature trips during the training
- Use of yoga props – mats, blocks, bolsters, blankets
- 5 element themed practice recordings to use after the training finishes
- Possibility to pay in instalments
Fee includes
- 7 nights of accommodation (double/twin room or 4 people dorm*)
- 3 meals** a day for 7 days
- Snacks, water, tea & coffee
*Your accommodation will be in a charming 200-year-old Italian countryside house newly restored in a minimalistic style. You will have your personal space (shared rooms of 2 to 6 people) with a private bathroom and you will be able to enjoy the common spaces: library, dining room, big outside terrace, garden with view over the valley and unique underground yoga shala.
Once you send us an inquiry (by clicking BOOKING & MORE INFO), we send send you the available accommodation options and prices.
FOOD
The training menu is inspired by the Mediterranean diet,
featuring exclusively local, nutrient-rich, and seasonal ingredients in their natural, unprocessed form –
all thoughtfully prepared with love.
LOCATION AND TRAVEL
Alvito is a small hillside village, is in the province of Frosinone, south of Rome in the Lazio region.
Closest airports are in Rome (Ciampino and Fiumincino) and in Naples (both ca 1,5hr by car).
We organize pick up/drop off at specified times on the arrival and departure day
from/to either Sora bus station (closest bigger town with a good bus connection to Rome and Naples) or from Cassino train station.
(we can send more local travel recommendations and guidance upon request)
Arrival/check in on Saturday October 4th after 14:00,
the program starts at 17:30 with opening circle and 19:00 dinner.
Departure/check out on Saturday October 11 after closing circle and breakfast at 11am
