Artful Touch & Effective Assists
This module explores hands-on assists as a skill rooted in presence, perception, and relationship, not correction or force.
Touch and assist invite teachers to slow down and refine how they observe bodies in movement. Rather than jumping in to fix or adjust, you’ll learn to recognise patterns, sense readiness, and respond with clarity and care. Touch becomes a way to support awareness, orientation, and ease, while respecting individual boundaries and nervous system states.
Through a combination of observation, self-experience, and hands-on exploration, this training supports the development of assist skills that feel grounded, functional, and natural, both for the person receiving and the one offering the touch.
You’ll leave with
💜 A clear framework for offering safe, intentional hands-on assists
💜 Greater confidence in reading bodies and movement patterns
💜 Practical tools to support students through touch with clarity and respect
What You'll Learn
Embodied Touch & Presence
You’ll explore touch as an extension of presence rather than a technique to apply. By working with your own body and perception first, you’ll develop a clearer sense of grounding, timing, and quality of contact.
This approach supports touch that feels responsive and supportive, rather than directive or intrusive.
Reading Bodies & Movement Patterns
Touch begins with seeing. You’ll develop skills to observe posture and habitual patterns in asanas, learning to recognise when and how touch may be supportive.
This perspective helps assists respond to what is actually happening in the body, rather than reinforcing habitual compensations.
Hands-On Skills You Can Trust
You’ll learn a range of practical hands-on techniques that can be applied safely in yoga classes, including grounding touch, directional support, and assists that invite organisation and ease rather than force or stretch. Equal attention is given to when to assist and which type of assist to choose, supporting discernment, choice, and confidence in your hands-on work.
Who You'll
Learn From
Willemieke Verweij brings a somatic and relational perspective to hands-on work, shaped by her background in dance, somatic movement, and intuitive touch. Her approach invites teachers to experience touch as a form of communication and connection, guided by listening, presence, and care.
Fanny Alavoine brings a movement-based and functional approach to touch and assist skills, informed by her work with alignment, sequencing, and embodied anatomy. Her teaching emphasises clarity, support, and responsiveness, helping teachers develop assists that feel natural, respectful, and grounded in real movement.
Together, they offer a balanced approach where technique and intuition meet, supporting teachers in developing hands-on skills that are both safe and deeply human.
Szidónia
I truly loved the experience. The training was absolutely lovely, and I feel I learned a great deal, not only in terms of knowledge, but also in confidence. I have already started to apply what I learned into my own practice and teaching, which feels incredibly empowering.
The way the training was intentionally and intelligently structured really stood out to me. It offered all the necessary tools to awaken that spark for hands-on assisting, making it feel both accessible and meaningful. The balance between theory, practice, and exploration created a very supportive learning environment.
Kat
I very much enjoyed the training. Really "hands-on", with a lot of practice which gave me confidence to apply the new knowledge to my classes. A complete toolset and loads of inspiration, that I am excited to apply!
Who It's For
- Certified yoga teachers (200h+)
- Passionate practitioners ready to deepen
- No need to be an expert, just curious and committed.
- Teachers working toward their 300h
Dates
Friday, Nov. 20, 2026:
10:30 - 18:30
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026:
12:00 - 20:00
Sunday, Nov 22, 2026:
10:30 - 18:30
Location
Tribes Studio 'The Flo'
Floris Versterlaan 61, Leiden
Just 15 minutes on foot from Leiden Central Station
For your meals: there are plenty of restaurants and shops near the station, or you’re welcome to bring your own, a fridge is available on site.
Price
€425
(no VAT charged, CRKBO-registered)
🐥 Early Bird: €50 off with code ASSIST50 - Available until 3 months before the training begins.
⏰ Limited spots available.
Certificate
Upon completing the module, you will be eligible to receive a certificate for Continuing Education with Yoga Alliance, effective immediately.
Why this training matters
Hands-on assists are powerful, but they require clarity and sensitivity. Without a grounded framework, teachers may either over-assist or avoid touch altogether, unsure of when or how to intervene.
This module offers a clear, embodied approach to hands-on work. It helps you develop the ability to observe, sense, and respond with confidence, so touch becomes a tool for connection, support, and learning rather than correction or hesitation.
Learning outcomes
After completing this module, you will be able to:
• Observe posture and movement patterns with greater clarity and sensitivity
• Offer hands-on assists that feel supportive, safe, and intentional
• Use touch to support awareness, organisation, and ease in movement
• Build trust and connection through respectful, presence-based assists