Elemental Embodiment Training
An immersive training into the elements through somatics, qigong and yoga.
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Online Foundation: March 2027
Bali Immersion: 17-23 April 2027
Discover how the elements deepen your practice, your teaching and how you move through life. A 50-hour Yoga Alliance accredited training for yoga teachers, facilitators and practitioners, led by Varsana Hart and Emma Tian Williamson.
Elemental Embodiment is a grounded journey into your inner and outer nature.
Through the framework of the Chinese Five Elements, you will discover how somatics, qigong and yoga come together to reveal a map of intelligence within your body, awakening greater aliveness and presence in yourself and how you relate to the world.
The training unfolds in two parts: an online foundation to ground your understanding in somatic practice and qigong, followed by a seven-day immersion in Bali to embody and integrate what you’ve learnt. Rooted in curiosity, depth and experiential learning, you will leave feeling resourced, inspired and connected with a renewed sense of how you process, practise and hold space for others.
On completion, you will receive a 50-hour Yoga Alliance certificate. You don’t need to be a teacher to join, dedicated practitioners with an interest in the elements, somatics and qigong wishing to deepen their practice are warmly welcome.
What is Elemental Embodiment?
Elemental Embodiment is a way of living, moving and being that starts in the body. At the heart of this training is an invitation to experience ourselves as feeling, sensing beings, connected to the natural world.
Through the practice and philosophy of qigong, yoga and somatics, we begin to discover how movement expands beyond physical alignment towards a body that is intuitive, interconnected and innately intelligent.
For thousands of years, the Chinese Five Elements have offered a way of understanding ourselves and our relationship to the natural world. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the elements live within us and we can tap into their wisdom through attuning to our own felt experience and subtle, vital energy. Through looking to nature as our teacher and embodying its signals and cycles, we can align with a more whole, harmonious and natural state of being.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water carry their own energy and emotional territory. Together they form an ancient, living compass we can return to for inner guidance as we navigate modern life. As your felt sense of the elements grows, the way you live, practise and facilitate begins to shift from the inside.
On this training, we explore the elements through different pathways:
Somatics
Through guided somatic practice, you'll feel how the elements live and move through us. The soma, the living, sensing body through which we perceive and experience our environment, is a doorway to greater insight and connection. Movement arises organically, guided by the body's innate intelligence. Exploring the nervous system, energy body and fascial lines, you'll gain practical pathways to move from the inside out.
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EMBODIMENT
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WOOD · FIRE · EARTH · METAL · WATER
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Qigong
Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice that brings together mindful movement with breath and intention. Rooted in Daoism and Buddhism, and a pillar of Traditional Chinese Medicine, qigong looks to nature as a teacher and works with the flow of qi, our vital energy, through the body. You’ll learn to lead the Five Element sequence and other key forms to connect with your qi, inner landscape and harmonious balance.
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Non-dual Philosophy
In Daoist teachings and non-dual philosophy, we’re not separate from the natural world, but part of an interconnected whole. Drawing on these traditions and the Tantric understanding of the body as a portal to awakening, we’ll explore how this interconnectedness moves from idea to felt experience. Through movement and breath, the elements become a living doorway into our wholeness, sensed directly in the body.
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Our Training Approach
Develop your own felt experience of qi, the Five Elements and somatic movement, so you practise and teach from lived understanding.
We honour curiosity and open awareness, so your learning arises from self-discovery and an authentic, heart-led way of living.
We create space to integrate and embody what you experience, so insight flows into how you process, practise and hold space for others.
Each tradition is taught with respect, context and care for lineage, so you can weave it into your teaching with integrity.
At the core of this training is returning to the wisdom of your own body and its potent energy, so you can truly embody before you guide.
Training structure
Online Foundation
Introductory session: Saturday 6 March, 9am-12pm GMT
Course work: daily home practice for 5 weeks leading up to training.
Daily qigong practice
Daily somatic inquiry
Bali Immersion
17-23 April 2027, 7 days, 6 nights
Retreat-style immersion to practise, integrate and come alive in your teaching.
What you’ll gain
An immersive experience that inspires learning and nourishment of the body, mind and heart.
Developing refined awareness and a deeper relationship with your own body and with practices for regulation, resilience and presence.
A grounded, embodied understanding of somatics, qigong and non-dual philosophy for your practice, teaching and everyday life.
Knowledge to design and deliver classes and workshops around the Chinese Five Elements.
The confidence to weave qigong and somatics into what you already teach with integrity.
Trust in your own embodied experience, so your teaching emerges from lived practice.
Understanding of lineage, attribution and the ethics of blending tradition and different pathways.
What we’ll explore
The Chinese Five Elements as a living framework for your inner and outer landscapes.
Elemental practices for everyday life, classes and workshops.
Qigong foundations as a doorway into the living, sensing body.
Attuning to the body's energy, the dantians and the meridians.
The 'soma' in its wholeness, and how somatics enriches our experience of the world.
Organic movement: exploring movement that arises from the body's own intuition and intelligence.
Fascial unwinding and myofascial release: using movement, sensation, breath and touch to unwind patterns of holding.
Practices taught from a trauma-informed lens
Cueing that invites exploration rather than correction.
Who this is for
This training is for you if:
Life often pulls you into doing mode, and you crave a deeper connection to your inner wisdom and a way of living rooted in feeling, sensing and presence.
You have an interest in qigong and somatics, and want a grounded foundation you can weave into your classes and life with integrity.
You are looking for more depth, confidence and direction in your teaching, as well as a training that nourishes and inspires you.
A qigong practice you can bring into your teaching, offerings and everyday life.
The confidence to weave qigong and somatics into what you already teach, with sensitivity to lineage and attribution.
How to take your movement and teaching beyond alignment and shape, into a more fluid sense of the body and its intelligence.
The tools to design and deliver classes and workshops around the Five Elements.
Trust in your own felt experience, so your teaching flows from authenticity and lived practice.
An immersive experience that nourishes body, mind and heart.
A way of practising that lasts a lifetime, bringing you back to yourself and your own inherent wisdom.
Where we'll be
Our home for the immersion is The Shala, founded as a sanctuary for realigning with nature.
Just outside Ubud, it's reached by the most scenic walk through the rice fields, away from the busy roads of Ubud. The slowing down begins before you arrive. We will practise in the morning and evening in an open-air shala overlooking the jungle, surrounded by the elements and the sound of nature.
You will stay in spacious rooms and wooden Javanese bungalows with views of rice-fields and the jungle. Daily meals are vegetarian and made in the organic, Ayurvedic kitchen
Why bali
In Bali, the elements are everywhere you look. Wood in the lush jungle growth. Fire in the volcanoes that made the island. Earth in the terraced fields. Metal in the mineral-rich volcanic soil. Water moving through the rice paddies and the rivers.
Balinese culture is organised around the harmony between people, nature and spirit - a relationship lived daily, in ritual and offering
On this immersion, the landscape around you awakens your senses and opens the way to the landscape within.
meet the team
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Varsana is a yoga teacher, somatic facilitator, mentor and founder of HartSpaces, with over eight years of experience teaching and holding spaces. Having grown up immersed in Bhakti and Vedic traditions, her background spans yoga, non-dual Tantra, sound, somatics and Ayurveda.
Her work weaves an integrated and experiential approach that places the living body, heart and embodied wisdom at the centre. Her teaching is heart-led, rhythmic and explorative, inviting curiosity, authentic expression and a deeper connection to the present moment.
Through HartSpaces, Varsana has created and hosted retreats, gatherings and multidimensional experiences across Europe, Asia and beyond, bringing together communities through movement, nature, ritual, connection and embodied practice. Alongside her own offerings, she works as a mentor and retreat consultant, supporting teachers, facilitators and brands in creating meaningful, intentional spaces and experiences.
Her work is rooted in the belief that embodiment is not simply something we practise, but a way of living, relating and being which invites people into a deeper relationship with the body, the heart, themselves and the world around them.
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Emma is a qigong, yoga and mindfulness teacher based in London. Her first teacher was her mother, who she grew up practising qigong with. It was in her mum's weekly classes where the seed of embodied movement was planted.
Years later she moved to Asia for a demanding career in PR that led to burnout. This became the catalyst for seeking a more balanced life, and in 2018 she set off on a two-year solo journey, beginning in Bali, where her yoga teaching began.
Grief and the loss of her mum led her back to qigong. She found solace in its gentle, non-striving approach, which felt like coming home to her roots and the practice her mother first gave her. Renewed and inspired by movement’s ability to connect us to energy, she began weaving qigong and yoga together, calling them Qi Flow.
Teachers who have shaped her path include Mimi Kuo-Deemer, Anna Taylor, Dulce Aguilar, Jean Hall, James Rafael, Singhashri Gazmuri and Vidyamala Burch.
Alongside teaching movement, she’s a Breathworks Teaching Associate where she teaches mindfulness and meditation - practices that have steadied her through life.
Her classes are guided by compassion and mindful attention, encouraging students to trust their own inherent wisdom and grounding. Her joy is helping people meet life with greater calm, creativity and resilience.
★★★★★
“Varsana is one of those rare teachers who combines deep knowledge and experience with genuine warmth, humility, and relatability. She has a natural ability to make everyone feel welcome, included, and completely at ease. From the moment you meet her, her energy is calming, authentic, and approachable, creating an environment where people feel comfortable showing up exactly as they are. Perhaps what makes Varsana so special is that she is not only interesting, but genuinely interested in the people she teaches. She listens, connects, and creates space for others with curiosity, compassion, and care. This combination makes her an exceptional teacher and guide. I have learned so much from her and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking to deepen their practice and learn from someone who truly leads with both knowledge and heart.” - Rachel Lary
★★★★★
"Practicing with Varsana has been a deeply grounding and inspiring experience. She creates a calm, supportive space where you feel safe to explore your practice at your own pace. Her guidance is clear, attentive, and thoughtful, and she brings a genuine sense of presence into every session. I always leave feeling more connected to my body, calmer in my mind, and recharged. I'm truly grateful for her teaching." - Kristine
★★★★★
“Emma is a wonderful teacher. Her teaching is a perfect mix of clear and insightful explanations of principles within the practices of qigong and yoga. Her gentle manner belies a deep knowledge and wisdom of both disciplines and an understanding of how they can be woven together. Classes are always creative and varied and she is skilled at holding a class and students’ needs. I always come out of class feeling better and grateful for Emma’s skill and attention.” - Sian O’Neill, Editor of Yoga Teaching Handbook and Yoga Student Handbook
★★★★★
“Emma’s classes are such a gift to have and truly breath of fresh air. I’ve very much appreciated finding new ways into different asanas with Emma’s guidance and knowledge. I also love that she understands and highlights the resonances between yoga and Qigong philosophy. Her sequences are always so thoughtfully prepared, and she blends the two practices BEAUTIFULLY. Having a chance to dip our toes into non-Western ways of thinking, moving, and relating to the world with someone who has a personal and direct connection with the ideas being taught seems quite vital for studios trying to decolonize the yoga space. Classes with Emma subtly opens shifts in thinking in a way that is interesting and rooted. It’s a delight to engage with the fluid, energetic space of her classes.” - Giselle Ty
Pricing
Pricing is inclusive of the training, your accommodation and two meals a day. A non-refundable deposit of €550 is required to secure your place.
Bungalow Twin with en-suite: €1,890
Deluxe Twin with en-suite: €1,949
Bungalow Solo with en-suite: €2,408
Deluxe Solo with en-suite: €2,607
Payment plans
We a 3 month payment plan until December 30th.
Please email hello@hart-spaces.com for more information.
Inclusions
50-hours of online and in-person training
6-nights of accommodation at The Shala, Ubud
Sessions with guest teachers from complementary disciplines
Vegetarian meals twice of day: breakfast and dinner
Excursions to local sites
Printed training manuals and online resources
Exclusions: Flights & Airport Transfers, (if applicable) Travel Insurance, Treatments.
Accommodation
The rooms at The Shala are considered spaces for rest and calm - soft linens, Balinese-inspired décor and views over the jungle and rice fields. Step outside and you're met with frangipani in the air and birdsong from the lush gardens.There are just 6 spots remaining.
Each room includes:
Ensuite bathroom
Mini fridge
Air-conditioning
Cotton mosquito nets
Ceiling fan
Safe for valuables
Natural bath amenities
Tea making facilities
High-end mattresses with toppers
WiFi
See room options below.
Bungalow: Solo Ensuite
€2,208 Sold out
Bungalow: Twin Ensuite
€1,690pp Sold out
Deluxe: Solo Ensuite
€2,407 €2,607pp
Deluxe Twin Ensuite
€1,749pp €1,949pp
What happens next
Complete the Application Form so we can find out a little more about you. We'll be in touch within 7 days to confirm your place and arrange your deposit to secure it. If you have any questions, you're welcome to email us at hello@hart-spaces.com
Apply to start your Elemental Embodiment journey today.
FAQ’S / good to know
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Yes, the training is accredited with Yoga Alliance. If you already hold a foundational 200-hour yoga training, you will receive a certificate with your accredited hours on completion.
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This training is for yoga teachers, facilitators and practitioners drawn to the elements, somatics and qigong. Whether you are a newer teacher seeking depth and direction, an experienced teacher craving fresh inspiration, or a dedicated practitioner ready to go beyond the surface of your practice, the training meets you where you are. No qigong experience is needed.
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No, this training is open to you if you facilitate movement or another modality, or have a dedicated movement or introspective practice.
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Six nights' accommodation at The Shala, two vegetarian meals a day and all training sessions online and in Bali. Flights and airport transfers are not included.
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We offer a 6-month payment plan available until August 30th. Please email hello@hart-spaces.com for more details.
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We ask that you attend all of the teaching sessions, especially if you are seeking your 50-hour certification on completion. Should there be any issues meeting these hours, please speak to us beforehand as we may be able to offer options to catch up.
The Bali Immersion must be attended in full, should any hours be missed due to ill health, catch up with materials will be arranged.
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All deposits are non-refundable.
Cancellations made more than 90 days before the training start date are eligible for a refund of any balance paid, minus the non-refundable deposit.
If you cancel within 90 days of the training start date, payments are non-refundable. However if the training sells out and we are able to fill your place, we will refund your payment minus the non-refundable deposit.
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The closest airport is Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar, DPS). The Shala is around 36km north of the airport, and can be reached by car (around 1-1.5 hour drive depending on traffic). We can arrange a shared airport transfer for the group at a specified time, or alternatively you can pre-book your own private transfer.
We'll send more information including transfer options and what to pack as part of your pre-arrival pack.