Ericeira, Portugal - April 3-9, 2027
50 hours: YACEP, Spanda 300h YTT
RETREAT PACKAGE AVAILABLE
At a Glance
Location & Dates
Ericeira, Portugal
April 3-9, 2027.
6-night immersive experience
Choose Your Experience
Advanced Teacher Training: full Chakra Flow training with practices, workshops, lectures and teaching practicums
Retreat: join the morning Chakra Flow practices while keeping your days free to relax, surf, hike or explore
Training Highlights
Learn to create themed classes, workshops and masterclasses
Explore Mandala Vinyasa, creative Namaskars and peak-asana sequencing
Move beyond asana with Pranayama, chanting, meditation and visualisation
Explore the Chakras through Yoga, psychology and somatic practice
Certificate of Completion + Yoga Alliance Continuing Education hours
Hours can be applied towards Spanda Institute’s 300-hour YTT
Retreat Includes
Daily 90-minute Chakra Flow practice
Two Pranayama or meditation sessions
60-minute Ayurvedic massage
Accommodation, breakfast & lunch
Final group dinner
About Chakra Flow
Teacher Training
Chakra Flow is one of our most sought-after advanced modules: an immersive journey into the subtle body that will deepen both your personal practice and the way you create and teach yoga.
Rather than approaching the Chakras as something abstract or esoteric, we explore them as a map for understanding different qualities within the body and mind. Each Chakra becomes the inspiration for a complete practice and an opportunity to explore how movement, breath, sound, meditation and other tools of Yoga can be used intentionally to awaken, balance and embody these qualities.
The journey moves progressively from the physical to the subtle. We begin with the body, exploring creative asana sequencing and the pathway towards more advanced postures. From there, breath becomes the bridge into subtler layers of practice, before we move into sound, mantra, meditation and visualisation. Along the way, we draw from Yoga, Ayurveda and Somatic Psychology to explore these practices in a way that is grounded, experiential and relevant to modern teaching.
For teachers, Chakra Flow is also an exploration of how to create a truly cohesive themed workshop or masterclass. The Chakra system provides our framework, but the methodology extends far beyond it. You’ll discover how to take a theme and express it organically through every layer of a practice, so that sequencing, Pranayama, mantra, mudra and meditation are not simply added elements, but parts of one meaningful journey.
And this is not only a module about learning how to teach. It is an invitation to experience the practices yourself: to explore, question, discover and perhaps transform through movement, breath, guided meditation and visualisation, mantra, creative practices, sharing circles and more.
Upon completion, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. You can use the training hours toward Yoga Alliance Continuing Education and our 300-hour Teacher Training.
The retreat
Not looking for teacher training, but drawn to the Chakra Flow experience? Join us on a retreat package and make the week your own.
Begin each day with a 90-minute intermediate/advanced Chakra Flow practice, exploring the theme and energy of a different Chakra through movement. Then, the rest of the day is yours. Slow down and relax, head out hiking, catch some waves, explore the area, or simply enjoy having nowhere you need to be.
Your retreat experience also includes two afternoon Pranayama or meditation sessions, a 60-minute Ayurvedic massage, accommodation with breakfast and lunch, and a final group dinner to close the journey together.
It’s a chance to immerse yourself in the practice while still having the spaciousness of a holiday: move in the morning, explore by day, and reconnect with yourself along the way.
What You’ll Learn
Create meaningful themed classes, workshops and masterclasses — learn how to take an idea or theme and translate it into a complete practice, weaving together asana, Pranayama, mantra, mudra, meditation and philosophy in a way that feels purposeful rather than imposed.
Sequence creative Mandala Vinyasa flows — learn to move students through full and semi-circles around the mat, using intelligent transitions and pulsations in and out of postures to progressively prepare the body for deeper, longer-held asanas.
Move beyond the standard Sun Salutation — expand your repertoire of Namaskars and learn how to create variations that don’t just add creativity, but intentionally prepare the physical and subtle body for the practice that follows.
Build intelligent sequences towards peak asanas — explore how to deconstruct more complex postures, identify what the body needs to prepare, and progressively sequence towards them. Through the first three Chakras, we’ll use the physical body and peak asanas as our primary field of exploration.
Use the breath as a bridge from the physical to the subtle — with the Heart Chakra, our practice begins to shift. Alongside asana, transitions and a peak posture, you’ll deepen your understanding of Pranayama and learn how breath can become an integral part of the journey of a class.
Bring mantra, sound, and voice into your teaching — as we move into the higher Chakras, discover practices beyond asana and learn how to introduce mantra and sound in a way that feels natural, accessible, and authentic.
Guide meditation and visualisation with confidence — explore different meditation and visualisation techniques and learn how to lead students into subtler practices beyond the physical body.
Understand how a practice can evolve from gross to subtle — experience how asana, breath, sound and meditation can build upon one another, and learn to choose the right yogic tools for the intention and energetic focus of your class.
Apply the framework far beyond the Chakras — while we use the Chakra system as our theme throughout this module, you’ll learn a creative methodology that can be applied to many different themes, giving you a framework for designing richer, more memorable teaching experiences.
Program Overview & Schedule
Online pre-training: 10 hours - the theory of the Chakras, diving deep into each one.
In person:
Saturday: opening ceremony at 6 pm
Sunday: Spanda Vinyasa - Muladhara Flow theory and practice
Monday: Spanda Vinyasa - Svadhisthana Flow theory and practice
Tuesday: Spanda Vinyasa - Manipura Flow theory and practice
Wednesday: Spanda Vinyasa - Anahata Flow theory and practice
Thursday: Spanda Vinyasa - Higher Chakra exploration
Friday: Breakfast and check-out
Daily flow:
08:00 - 09:45 Morning practice
09:45 - 11:00 Breakfast break
11:00 - 13:30 Lectures
13:30 - 15:30 Lunch break
15:30 - 18:00 Practicum*
*due to the diploma ceremony and group dinner, the last day will run longer
Your Teachers
Nina Vukas
Nina is a founder of Spanda Institute and the creator of the Chakra Flow module. As a psychologist and somatic therapist, she brings a unique perspective to the Chakra system, exploring its traditional teachings alongside insights from psychology and the body-mind connection. She will guide you through this theoretical and experiential exploration, both online and in person, as well as lead selected practical sessions, with a particular focus on Pranayama and meditation.
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Bruno Morais
Bruno will guide you through the methodology behind sequencing Chakra Flow classes, helping you understand the intention and logic behind each element of the practice, from Namaskars and Mandala Vinyasa to peak asanas and transitions. With his background as a dancer, Bruno brings a unique understanding of movement and an intuitive way of breaking it down, helping you understand how sequences flow, how transitions connect, and how to embody and teach them with greater confidence and ease.
Madeline Rowland
Maddie will guide you through some classes, teaching practicums and other practical elements of the module, but as a professional singer with a deep love for Kirtan, she brings a special focus to the exploration of voice, mantra and expression. She will help you feel more comfortable using your own voice and explore how to incorporate chanting naturally and confidently into your teaching and personal practice.
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Location, Accommodation and Meals
ABOUT ERICEIRA
Perched atop 30-metre sandstone cliffs, overlooking the powerful blue Atlantic and a stretch of golden sand beaches, Ericeira is a fishing town in the Lisbon district, about 35 kilometres northwest of Lisbon. The old village is charming and quintessentially Portuguese, with its whitewashed houses, blue doors and window frames, traditional tiles, chapels, and narrow cobbled streets. Once a peaceful coastal retreat, Ericeira and its surrounding coastline have recently been recognised as a World Surfing Reserve, transforming it into a surfer’s paradise with over 30 surf spots offering a variety of waves for all levels.
ABOUT MARÉ
Our venue, and Spanda Institute home base, Maré Guesthouse is conveniently nestled in the heart of the old village, within walking distance of the beaches, shops, and restaurants, yet tucked away just enough to provide peace and quiet. Maré sits next to Fonte do Cabo, an old fountain dating back to 1457 and one of the oldest in Ericeira; as you walk through the red doors, you will find a little oasis. Maré's rooms are airy and light, with cotton bedlinen and simple, nature-inspired details. All the rooms share bathrooms. Common areas include a lush garden with a plunge pool, a co-working space, and a bright, beautiful yoga shala. Please note that we do not have a shared kitchen for cooking and storage. Also, we have a cat living on the property. Let us know if you have a cat allergy so we can keep Vasco away.
ABOUT THE MEALS
Your stay includes a healthy, organic, plant-based breakfast and lunch, with both vegan and vegetarian options. Lunch includes a main course and dessert, a refreshing drink such as homemade lemonade or iced tea, and coffee. Our meals are balanced and nourishing, with plenty of protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates to keep you energised throughout the training. For dinner, we encourage you to explore the local restaurant scene. With plenty of options just a few minutes' walk away, there's something for every taste and budget.
Investment / Packages
ACCOMMODATION & WHAT IS INCLUDED?
All residential YTT packages include tuition, course materials, 6 nights of accommodation*, breakfast and lunch, tourist tax for the duration of your stay, and one group dinner. All listed prices are per person.
Non-residential YTT packages include tuition, course materials and one group dinner, with the option to add breakfast, lunch or both.
Retreat packages include a 90-minute morning Chakra Flow class (intermediate/advanced level), two PM meditation or pranayama classes, a 60-min Ayurvedic massage & accommodation* with breakfast and lunch, and a final group dinner.
*Room categories refer to occupancy: single rooms are for one person, twin rooms are shared by two students, and the shared attic room accommodates four students. All bathroom facilities are shared.
Small single room
YTT Early Bird … 1330 €
YTT Late Bird …. 1430 €
Retreat Package EB … 930 €
Retreat Package LB …. 980 €
Located on the first floor overlooking the garden, this cosy room has a single bed and easy access to the upstairs shared bathrooms.
Please note: we have just one room in this category, and it tends to book quickly.
Large single room
YTT Early Bird … 1460 €
YTT Late Bird …. 1560 €
Retreat Package EB … 1060 €
Retreat Package LB …. 1110 €
Our larger single rooms are located across the ground and first floors, with either garden or alley views. All rooms share bathroom facilities.
Please note: we allocate individual rooms based on the group's needs, with earlier bookings allocated to more sought-after rooms.
Twin shared room
Early Bird … 1190 €
Late Bird …. 1290 €
Retreat Package EB … 790 €
Retreat Package LB …. 840 €
Our twin rooms have two single beds and are located in different parts of the house, with garden, alley or square views. All rooms share bathroom facilities.
Please note: we allocate individual rooms according to availability and the needs of each group, with earlier bookings given priority.
Shared Attic Room - quadruple
Early Bird … 1100 €
Late Bird …. 1200 €
Retreat Package EB … 700 €
Retreat Package LB …. 750 €
Our spacious attic room has four single beds and a small living area with a sofa, armchair and coffee table, offering plenty of space to relax and settle in during your stay. The shared bathroom is located on the floor below.
Please note: For yoga teacher training, this room is set up with four single beds.
Non-residential packages (YTT)
TUITION ONLY:
YTT Early Bird … 750 €
YTT Late Bird …. 850 €
ADDITIONAL MEALS:
Lunch 90€ (5 × 18 € )
Breakfast 65€ (5 × 13 €)
If you choose not to stay at the venue or add a meal package, you are welcome to bring your own food and enjoy it in the garden and dining room. Please note, however, that there is no shared kitchen, refrigerator or washing-up area available for guest use.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
YTT: 500 € deposit to save your spot/room choice
RETREAT: 300 € deposit to save your spot/room choice
Early bird prices are available until December 1, 2026, when the remaining balance is due.
Late Bird prices are charged after December 1. The remaining balance is due March 20, 2027.
You will find full terms and conditions in our application form. Please read them carefully.