29 Day 300-Hour Yoga Therapy Training for 500-Hour Teacher Certification in Valencia, Spain
300-hour Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine Training in Spain
Become a 500-hour master yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance International Certification. This 300 hour Yoga Therapy program facilitates a great opportunity for a deep personal healing experience as well as taking your understanding and teaching of yoga to a higher and more professional level. This advanced course covers a range of topics and learning. After successful completion, graduates will receive Yoga Alliance International certification as 500-hour Master Yoga Teachers.
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Highlights
- 29-day intensive journey in healing
- Certificate of completion
- Explore asanas, chakras, and Chinese acupuncture meridians
- Evaluate health through posture, movement, facial observation, interview, listening, and palpation
- Pick up and drop off from Vinaros railway station
- 28 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Advanced
Yoga styles
Barcelona–El Prat Airport (US$ 270 per person)
Reus Airport (US$ 146 per person)
Valencia Airport (US$ 180 per person)
Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport (US$ 84 per person)
Accommodation
Accommodation, as well as the course, are at Vinalux Resort. A hotel with a yoga shala, fitness room, and sauna located in central Vinaros, close to the beach. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms.
The hotel is located in a quiet but central part of Vinaros. Restaurants, bars, markets, and supermarkets are all within a few minutes walk from the hotel. But the hotel is also close to the beach, and from there you may follow the beautiful coastline and leave the town behind.
Program
Certification
Students who complete their training are eligible to apply for Yoga Alliance International certification.
Course objectives
This 300-hour Yoga Therapy course for 500-hour Master Yoga Teacher certification is a four-week intensive journey in healing through exploring the subtleties of the asanas, their energetic links with the chakras, the Chinese acupuncture meridians, as well as modern anatomy, physiology, and yogic psychology.
You will learn how to evaluate your patient's health using methods of palpation (touch) as well as observation of posture and structural evaluation, listening skills, taking detailed case histories, and interpreting the signs and symptoms of imbalance and disease.
Yoga therapy is based on the concept of salutogenesis, in line with all holistic therapies. This is the promotion of health and healing rather than focusing on curing diseases. When the body-mind and emotions heal, the disease falls away as it can no longer feed on negativity, bad habits, toxins, and trauma.
This may take time and always involves the individual as an active participant in the healing process.
The course syllabus is divided into four parts:
1. Detailed asana practice
- Asana practice
- Meditation
- Pranayama
- Sequencing
- Correction and adjustment techniques
2. Evaluation methods
- Detailed interview, i.e., questioning and how to evaluate the answers (questions on digestion, stools, sleep, pain, gynecology, etc.)
- Observation (posture, the spine, facial diagnosis, movement, etc.) and listening skills
- Back palpation (feeling and evaluating the zones on the back) based on Chinese Medicine and the chakras
- Introduction to Chinese Medicine
- Digestive and nutritional assessment
3. Treatment methods
- Asana, in-depth understanding, recuperative, therapeutic, and use of props
- Breathwork
- Meditation, guided meditation, and scanning
- Asana for specific chakras, meridians, and organs
- Relaxation techniques, types of savasana (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual)
- Nutrition and eating habits
- Mantras and color therapy
- Hands-on techniques: Basic back Shiatsu, including all diagnostic zones on the back; chakra balancing; and hip and neck adjustments
4. Theory
- Philosophy and aim of yoga
- Concept of salutogenesis (promoting health rather than just concentrating on curing disease)
- The five points of yoga
- The four paths of yoga
- Prana (qi); concept of energy, the nadis, and Chinese acupuncture meridians
- The four elements and the akasha
- The five koshas
- Yoga psychology: The gunas; the chakras; the eight limbs of yoga, and the two hemispheres of the brain
- The bandhas
- Principles of self-development
- Teacher-student relationship
- Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita
- Karma and reincarnation
- The yugas
- Principles and benefits of meditation
- Ethics for yoga teachers
- Philosophy and spirituality; purpose, meaning, and goals of life
- Anatomy and physiology
5. Yoga Therapy for illnesses and problems relating to the following systems
- General signs of bad health and stress
- Backache
- Respiratory system
- Circulatory system
- Digestive system and nutrition
- Urinary system
- Nervous system and stress
- Hormonal system
- Immune system
- Women’s and men’s health
- Mind and emotions
In yoga therapy, these problems are treated with:
- Asanas related to the chakras and the Chinese acupuncture meridians
- Deep relaxation
- Breathwork, mindfulness, and meditation
- Diet
- Understanding the link between physical problems, mind, emotions, and spirituality
Prerequisites
Students enrolling in this 500-hour yoga course are expected to be qualified yoga teachers at the 200-hour level from any school.
Evaluation procedure and grading criteria
Students are required to have completed all the set assignments by the end of the course. They are also expected to show proficiency and improvement in their own asana practice and understanding, including:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Evaluation and treatment procedures
- Case history
The practical evaluation is based on continual assessment. There will also be a written exam, which all students must pass in order to obtain the 500-hour master yoga teacher certification.
Attendance
Trainees should attend a minimum of 90% of the course. Should trainees miss more than this minimum, they will need to agree with the teacher which modules to retake. SYM reserves the right to charge additional fees for these catch-up modules.
Example of daily schedule
- 08:30 - 09:00 Meditation and pranayama
- 09:00 - 11:00 Asana and restorative asana and relaxation
- 11:00 - 11:15 Break
- 11:15 - 13:00 Yoga theory, philosophy, psychology / anatomy, physiology
- 13:00 - 15:00 Lunch break
- 15:00 - 16:30 Yoga theory - Psychology / assessment tools / hands-on (chakra balancing, basic back Shiatsu)
- 17:00 - 18:30 Yogic healing tools and practice
Please note that times may change slightly due to season and location.
One and a half days per week are free. Students are expected to spend free days and several hours per day during the week on homework and practice.
Instructors
Gerry Rixen
Gerry is an experienced Shiatsu practitioner / teacher as well as a Senior Yoga Teacher (SYT), teaching 200 and 500 hours certified yoga courses registered and validated by Yoga Alliance International since 2011. He started his yoga practice with the Iyengar and Sivananda methods over 30 years ago. He is also a certified therapist in Shiatsu and Chinese Medicine with over 30 years of professional experience. He is founder/director of SYM-Ltd and a 4th Dan Instructor in the Japanese ZEN and Martial Art of Shorinji Kempo.
Sabrina Ribes Bonet
Sabrina is certified in contemporary dance with the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, UK, and has over 15 years professional experience. She is also a Bio-dance teacher and certified Yoga Teacher (500 hour level with Yoga Alliance). She teaches Yoga and dance as a method for self development and well being of mind and body. Yoga and dance reveal the secret language of the soul, connecting with our most intimate essence. Sabrina speaks Spanish and English, and together with Gerry Rixen, teaches the 300 hour Yoga Therapy course (for 500 h Yoga teacher certification) in Benicarlo, Spain.
Retreat location
Vinaros is a picturesque, medium-sized town in the north of the Valencian Community, Spain, on the Mediterranean Coast north of Castellon. Not far south from the Ebro River. The location, Vinalux Resort, is just a few minutes walk from the beach, fresh food markets, supermarkets, restaurants, and bars.
Food
The apartments have fully equipped kitchens, and students can cater for themselves; there are markets and supermarkets with all necessities within easy walking distance.
Students are responsible for their own meals; however, selective restaurants will be recommended that provide quality food, including vegetarian and vegan options, at very reasonable rates.
There are markets, bars, restaurants, cafes, takeaways, and supermarkets within just a few minutes walk where you can find delicious snacks and a huge variety of food and meals.
The final party is included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
Things to do (optional)
In your free time, you can enjoy the beautiful town of Vinaros, with its beautiful coastline, coves, and beaches. From there, you also have easy access to wonderful hikes and excursions into the nearby mountains.
The Shiatsu & Yoga Academy Europe does not formally organize any excursions. However, there are various beautiful areas in the mountains, exceptional beaches, and historical towns to visit, such as Peniscola, an amazingly well-preserved historical town and port sitting on an island in the sea with its citadel and ramparts all intact. It is one of the main tourist attractions in the region.
Further south, there is the national park of the Sierra D'Irta with its rugged coastline, pine trees, and beautiful beaches. And to the northwest, there are the mountains and lakes of La Senia. All these are within 15 minutes' to one-hour drive away. Trips are usually organized after the students arrive, based on group interests.
Shiatsu
In addition to the healing modalities explored in the course, students have the opportunity to arrange private treatments with Gerry, a certified therapist in Shiatsu and Chinese Medicine and a trained Shiatsu practitioner. These can be arranged at an additional cost during the course.
Spa treatments
- Shiatsu treatment - 50 EUR
- Free use of multi gym
- Sauna - 5 EUR
What's included
- Certificate of completion
- Course manual
- Exploring Asanas, Chakras, and Chinese acupuncture meridians
- Learn how to evaluate health using various methods and observation
- Pick up and drop off from Vinaros or Benicarlo railway station
- 28 nights accommodation
- End of course party
What's not included
- Health insurance
- Travel insurance
- Plante tickets
- Train tickets
- Food
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Barcelona–El Prat Airport
162 km
Transfer not provided
Reus Airport
95 km
Transfer not provided
Valencia Airport
136 km
Transfer not provided
Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport
45 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane:
Please book your flights to arrive at Valencia Airport (VLC) or Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN). You can also try Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport (CDT) and Reus Airport (REU) (near Tarragona). These are much smaller airports compared to Barcelona or Valencia and have far fewer flights available, but worth checking.
Pick up / drop off:
- Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) is 240 EUR.
- Valencia Airport (VLC) is 160 EUR.
- Reus Airport (REU) is 130 EUR.
- Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport (CDT) is 75 EUR.
Arrival by train:
Please make your way by train to Vinaros train station or Benicarlo / Peniscola railway station where a complementary pick up will be provided. Drop off at the train station is also included at the end of the course.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.