Germany · 6 days
Here's how a December week in Heimbach goes. On the retreat, mornings start with a practice session. Later in the morning there's a teaching or workshop session tied to the week's theme. Then comes lunch and a long afternoon break, which you can spend walking, reading or sleeping. An evening practice follows before a s…
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Germany · 6 days · From EUR 1400
Here's how a December week in Heimbach goes. On the retreat, mornings start with a practice session. Later in the morning there's a teaching or workshop session tied to the week's theme. Then comes lunch and a long afternoon break, which you can spend walking, reading or sleeping. An evening practice follows before a shared dinner. There's no manual to study after hours and nothing you have to demonstrate before you leave.
The 50-hour trainings run alongside the retreat on the same dates, but the days are fuller and more structured. Each one is a complete, stand-alone course with its own curriculum. Yin Yoga covers long-held postures, props, functional anatomy, sequencing and how to lead a quiet class. Yoga Nidra covers guiding conscious relaxation: your voice, pacing, session structure and writing scripts with a purpose. Pranayama goes deep into breath techniques, how to progress students through them, what to watch for, and how to teach them responsibly. You don't need an RYT 200 to sign up. Existing Registered Yoga Teachers can report eligible hours to Yoga Alliance as continuing education through the school's YACEP status.
The school is clear about what the certificate does and doesn't do. A 50-hour certificate documents training in the named method. It doesn't make you an RYT 200, and it doesn't qualify you to teach unrelated yoga styles. The school also tells people not to pick a training just because it looks like more for the money. Training brings study, course requirements and responsibility, and the retreat deliberately leaves those out.
The teaching team is the same whichever option you choose. Yogi Sandeep Atri and Dr. Katharina Austermann lead the week together. Katharina is an E-RYT 500 and holds a PhD in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Bonn. Because it's a small school, retreat guests and trainees get the same access to both teachers.
Heimbach sits in the Eifel, close to Eifel National Park, a stretch of low hills and woodland in western Germany. December here is quiet, cold and dark early, which suits a week spent mostly indoors on a mat. If you're still unsure whether teacher training is for you, the school suggests starting with the retreat. You'll get a feel for the residential routine without the pressure of an assessment, and you can come back for a specialist or foundational training on later dates.
- 5 nights residential accommodation (shared twin or private double) - Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day - Daily morning and evening yoga practice - Daily workshop or teaching session - Direct access to lead teachers Sandeep Atri and Dr. Katharina Austermann - 50-hour specialist course in Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra or Pranayama (training packages) - Study materials (training packages) - Specialist course certificate after successful completion (training packages) - YACEP continuing-education hours for existing RYTs (training packages)
- Travel to and from Heimbach - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Teaching certificate or study materials (retreat option) - RYT 200 credential (not awarded by the 50-hour courses)