For Practitioners & Wellness Professionals
Yin Yoga Teacher Training & Certification
Leave not just certified, but embodied.
A TCM-informed Yin Yoga teacher training led by Imad Khaddaj. Designed for yoga teachers, bodyworkers, therapists, and wellness professionals who want to teach with more depth, more integrity, and more embodied understanding of how the practice actually works.
The Foundation.
The Advanced Training.
The Complete Pathway.
The Yin Yoga Teacher Training at Grounded Movement is the first step in a two-part practitioner education.
The 50-Hour Foundation Training:
Yin Yoga & The Path of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Provides a complete Yin Yoga teacher certification rooted in TCM, meridian theory, functional anatomy, and teaching methodology.
For those who want to go further, the 50-Hour Somatic Yin:
Advanced Holistic Practitioner Training builds on the Foundation, integrating the Grounded Movement Methodology through nervous system regulation, somatic healing, breath cultivation, Reiki-informed energetic awareness, bodywork, and holistic session design.
Together, both trainings form the 100-Hour Grounded Movement Practitioner Pathway.
50-Hour Foundation ▶
Yin Yoga Teacher
50-Hour Somatic Yin ▶
Grounded Movement Practitioner
100-Hour Pathway =
The Complete Educational Journey
About The Training
More than a Yin Yoga certification. A complete education in traditional chinese medicine, anatomy, and how the practice actually works.
Most Yin Yoga teacher trainings teach you the postures, the holds, and the sequencing. This one goes further.
The 50-Hour Foundation Training integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, meridian theory, functional anatomy of fascia and connective tissue, and teaching methodology into a curriculum that is both deeply theoretical and immediately practical. You will leave knowing not only how to teach Yin Yoga, but understanding why it works at the level of the meridians, the connective tissue, and the body as a whole.
Grounded Movement School is a Registered Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). Upon successful completion, graduates receive a Grounded Movement School Certificate. Training hours may be applied toward Yoga Alliance continuing education requirements.
But this is more than a certification.
It is an embodied understanding.
Who this is for
This training is for people who want to teach with depth, not just technique.
This training is designed for people who want to deepen their understanding of Yin Yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine for professional development, to support their clients, or for their own personal growth.
This is for you if you are:
A yoga teacher looking to expand into Yin, TCM-informed sequencing, and meridian-based class design
An aspiring instructor building your initial foundation and seeking a certification rooted in depth
A massage therapist or bodyworker seeking an integrative somatic approach to complement your practice
A therapist, healthcare practitioner, or wellness professional who wants body-based frameworks to support your clients
An individual deeply committed to personal growth and embodied healing, with or without plans to teach
"What I want for every person who comes through this training is simple: to leave knowing they can hold a room with integrity. To understand the why behind every hold, every breath, every cue, and to feel that understanding in their body, not just their notes. If that is what you are looking for, this training was built for you."
— Imad Khaddaj
What you will learn across the
50 hours in the Foundation Training
Yin Yoga & The Path of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The training covers six interconnected pillars. Each one builds on the last. Together they create a framework for teaching Yin Yoga that is grounded in both ancient wisdom and modern understanding of the body.
-
Yin Yoga Philosophy, History & Lineage
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Explore the roots of Yin Yoga through Taoist philosophy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the evolution of the modern Yin Yoga movement. Learn about the contributions of influential teachers such as Paul Grilley and Bernie Clark, whose work helped shape the practice as it is known today. Discover the principles that distinguish Yin Yoga from more dynamic styles of yoga and why these differences create a unique opportunity for physical, mental, emotional, and energetic development.
-
Functional Yin Anatomy
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Explore the anatomy of Yin Yoga through the study of fascia, connective tissue, joints, ligaments, and skeletal variation. Learn why every body experiences postures differently, how Yin Yoga creates positive stress within connective tissue, and how to teach safely while respecting individual anatomical differences.
-
Traditional Chinese Medicine Foundations
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
An introduction to the foundational principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and its understanding of health, balance, vitality, and disease prevention. Learn how Yin Yoga complements the TCM model and how these teachings can be applied as a framework for both practice and daily living.
-
Meridian Theory & Energetic Anatomy
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Learn about the body's meridian system and its relationship to organ function, emotional well-being, energy flow, and overall health. Explore how Yin Yoga postures stimulate specific meridian pathways and how to sequence classes with greater intention and purpose.
-
The Five Elements & Seasonal Living
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Explore the Five Element framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine and its connection to the seasons, emotions, organ systems, and cycles of nature. Learn how this ancient system can be used as a practical guide for understanding ourselves, cultivating balance, and living in greater harmony with the natural world.
-
Teaching Methodology & Class Design
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Develop the skills and confidence to teach meaningful Yin Yoga classes. Learn sequencing principles, observation skills, effective cueing, modifications, class structure, and how to create a safe and supportive environment for students. Practicum teaching and feedback help students embody the role of teacher while developing their own authentic voice.
What you will learn across the
50-Hour Somatic Yin
Advanced Holistic Practitioner Training
-
The Grounded Movement Methodology
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
An introduction to the integrated top-down and bottom-up approach that forms the foundation of Grounded Movement. Learn how awareness-based practices and body-based practices work together to support nervous system strength and regulation, grounding, and inner peace. Explore how this methodology can be applied within both private sessions and group settings.
-
Nervous System Regulation & Polyvagal Theory
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Develop a deeper understanding of the autonomic nervous system and its role in stress, safety, connection, resilience, and well-being. Learn how nervous system states influence behaviour, emotions, and perception, and how Yin Yoga and other holistic practices can support greater regulation and adaptability.
-
Somatic Healing, Reiki & Energetic Awareness
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Explore the relationship between emotions, sensation, energy, and embodied experience. Students are introduced to somatic healing principles, Reiki philosophy, energetic anatomy, chakra systems, and awareness practices that support self-regulation, self-awareness, and personal transformation.
-
Inner Alchemy & Breath Cultivation
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Explore the transformative relationship between breath, awareness, and inner experience. Learn how breathing patterns influence physiology, emotional states, and nervous system function while developing practical tools for regulation, meditation, visualization, and internal cultivation practices.
-
Acupressure, Tui Na & Therapeutic Touch
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
An introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine bodywork principles and the therapeutic use of touch. Explore acupressure points, meridian-based applications, and foundational Tui Na techniques that can be integrated into Yin Yoga experiences and holistic wellness settings.
-
Assessment, Session Design & Practitioner Development
#fhtogglels/Read More/Close/eb
Learn how to work with individuals through intake, observation, assessment, facilitation, and integration. Students develop the skills to design meaningful sessions using Yin Yoga, breath, somatic approaches, bodywork, energetic practices, and holistic wellness principles. This pillar bridges knowledge and application, supporting the transition from Yin Yoga teacher to Grounded Movement practitioner.
The Experience
The environment I create is grounded, supportive, and safe. Not just physically, but in how people feel when they are in the room.
I am deeply attentive to where people are as they move through this material. The training itself is an embodied demonstration of everything that is taught. You experience the practice as a student before you are ever asked to hold the room as a teacher.
I lead not through authority, but through example, integrity, and devotion to the work. This is a space where depth is valued over performance, and where every practitioner — regardless of where they start — is held with genuine care and attention.
The Details
Format · In-Person, Ottawa
Hours · 50 Hours (Yoga Alliance Approved)
Next Cohort · Winter 2027
Class Size · Small cohort, intentionally limited
What’s Included
50 hours of in-person instruction with Imad Khaddaj
Grounded Movement School Certificate upon completion
Yoga Alliance YACEP hours applicable toward continuing education
Practicum teaching opportunities with feedback
Access to Imad's on-demand library during the training period
No prior teaching experience required. If you’re unsure whether this training is right for you, a free discovery call is the best place to start.
Meet Your Yin Yoga Teacher,
Imad Khaddaj
I teach this training from over a decade of lived practice in martial arts, Ashtanga yoga, Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tibetan Buddhism, Reiki, breathwork, somatic study, and thousands of hours of teaching.
What I bring to this training is not just knowledge. It is devotion. I became a certified personal trainer and breathwork facilitator. I have devoted years to meditation retreats and mindfulness practice. This work is not something I picked up along the way. I built my life around it.
More than any certification, what sets my teaching apart is the integrity, discipline, and depth with which I show up. This is not a career for me. It is a lifelong path.
Imad Khaddaj’s Credentials
E-RYT 200: Yoga Alliance Registered
Reiki Certified Practitioner
Reiki Holy Fire Master
Certified Elemental Breathwork Facilitator
Certified Personal Trainer
Yin Yoga: trained in the lineage of Paul Grilley and Bernie Clark’s TCM-informed approach
Ashtanga Yoga: multi-year dedicated practice
Traditional Chinese Medicine: meridian theory and five element framework
Tibetan Buddhist meditation, multiple retreat attendances
Martial arts, two years of dedicated training at American Kickboxing Academy Thailand
From the people who’ve been in the room.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yin Yoga is a slow, meditative style of yoga that targets the body's connective tissues, including fascia, ligaments, joints, and tendons. Postures are held for longer periods of time, allowing practitioners to cultivate greater mobility, awareness, resilience, and presence. At Grounded Movement, Yin Yoga is taught as more than a physical practice. Students explore its connection to Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotional well-being, energetic awareness, and personal transformation.
-
No. This training is open to yoga teachers, wellness professionals, bodyworkers, healthcare practitioners, and individuals interested in deepening their personal practice and understanding of Yin Yoga. Whether your goal is to teach, support clients, or explore your own personal growth journey, the training is designed to meet you where you are.
-
Yes. Grounded Movement School is a Registered Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). Graduates receive a Grounded Movement School Certificate upon successful completion of the training. Training hours may be applied toward Yoga Alliance continuing education requirements.
-
Currently, the training is offered primarily in person to provide students with a rich experiential learning environment and direct mentorship. Online and hybrid training options are currently being developed and will be available in the future.
-
Training tuition and upcoming cohort information is coming soon. Join The Waitlist to be the first to know about the next cohort date and investment information.
Flexible payment plans may be available to help make the training more accessible. Please contact us directly to discuss available options.
-
Many Yin Yoga trainings focus primarily on postures, anatomy, and sequencing.
Grounded Movement takes a more holistic approach.
Students learn not only how to teach Yin Yoga, but also how to understand its relationship to Traditional Chinese Medicine, fascia, emotional well-being, nervous system regulation, energetic awareness, Reiki principles, and personal transformation.
Students who continue into Somatic Yin learn how to apply the Grounded Movement Methodology through practitioner development, somatic healing, breath cultivation, bodywork, Reiki-informed energetic practices, and holistic session design.
-
Graduates of the 50-Hour Foundation Training are qualified to teach Yin Yoga through the Grounded Movement methodology and may apply the training within yoga studios, wellness centres, retreats, community settings, and private practice. Students may also continue their education through the 50-Hour Somatic Yin Advanced Holistic Practitioner Training. Together, both trainings form the 100-Hour Grounded Movement Practitioner Pathway.
Have more questions?
