About this training
04.03. - 08.03.2025 in Austria
This training is a living, embodied journey through the Five Elements ~ Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water ~ inviting you to explore how these natural forces move within you.
Each day is devoted to one element, offering a deep dive into its qualities and teachings. Through yoga practice, you’ll embody the essence of the day’s element ~ the upward momentum and vision of Wood, the warmth and joy of Fire, the grounded stability of Earth, the clarity and refinement of Metal, and the deep stillness and intuition of Water.
In the bodywork sessions, you’ll learn to see and feel the body’s elemental patterns and practice Zenthai Shiatsu sequences that bring balance where energy is lacking or in excess.
Guided by Anja Gfrerer ~ Yoga Teacher, Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist, and Facilitator ~ the experience moves beyond learning techniques. It becomes a space to listen with your hands, move with awareness, and reconnect with the intelligence of nature.
This is more than a training ~ it’s a transformative elemental immersion, where movement, touch, and community come together to guide you from doing into being, and from knowledge into embodied wisdom.
Who is this for?
-
Students of Zenthai Shiatsu Level 1, or those beginning their journey with bodywork
-
Manual therapists, bodyworkers, shiatsu and massage practitioners, osteopaths, and yoga or somatic teachers
-
Anyone drawn to cultivating presence, sensitivity, and dive into bodywork
This training can be taken before or after Level 1. Together, these two modules form the foundation of the Zenthai Shiatsu 3-year certified therapeutic pathway, which continues with:
-
June 2026 – Intermediate (Advanced) Level with Gwyn Williams
-
June 2027 – Final Level & Therapist Certification
Why Learn About the 5 Elements
and Meridiansystem
By learning the language of the elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — you begin to recognize their patterns in yourself and others.
You notice when there’s too much drive and tension (Wood in excess), when energy feels scattered or burned out (imbalanced Fire), or when heaviness and worry take hold (Earth out of harmony). This awareness helps you respond rather than react, creating more flow, balance, and understanding in everyday life.
In bodywork, this knowledge becomes a powerful compass. Reading the energetic landscape through the meridians allows you to meet the client where they are — sensing whether their system needs grounding, nourishment, or expansion. You learn how to work in harmony with the body’s natural rhythms, supporting deeper release, emotional integration, and overall vitality.
Ultimately, studying the 5 Elements and meridians cultivates presence, intuition, and empathy — qualities that not only refine your touch but also transform the way you connect with the world around you.
Understanding the Five Elements and their meridian pathways opens a doorway into seeing life ~ and the body ~ as an interconnected, living system. Each element reflects not only physical organs and functions, but also emotional, mental, and seasonal qualities that shape how we move, feel, and relate.
What you will gain
This training invites you to understand how the qualities of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water express themselves in the body.
Over 2 hours of Zenthai sequences rooted in the wisdom of the Elements
A refined quality of touch grounded in sensitivity and awareness
Practical tools to enhance your therapeutic or teaching practice
A comprehensive manual, recap videos, and access to the Zenthai community
An official Zenthai Shiatsu 5 Elements Certificate
What makes this
training special
What makes this training truly special is its elemental journey ~ each day is dedicated to one of the Five Elements, offering a full immersion into its physical, emotional, and energetic qualities.
Through yoga practices, you’ll embody the essence of the element ~ whether it’s the fluid adaptability of Water, the grounded strength of Earth, or the passionate openness of Fire.
You’ll learn to read the body and mind patterns related to that element and practice Zenthai Shiatsu sequences designed to restore balance and harmony.
This training offers a unique depth of hands-on experience ~ plenty of time to practice, explore, and play in a supportive, heart-centered environment.
With a small group setting ensuring personal attention and safety, the focus remains on presence.
This training is both a stand-alone immersion and a foundation for the wider Zenthai Shiatsu pathway, for those who wish to deepen into the art of mindful, heart-led touch.
Inclusion
-
Detailed course manual and material
-
Instructional video of material covered
-
Deep dive into the 5 Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine
-
Zenthai Shiatsu Module 2 Certificate
-
Morning tea & Snacks
-
Accommodation at the Yoga Farm
-
3 nourishing meals per day
-
Dynamic morning yoga sessions
-
Giving and receiving of quality body work
-
Cultivating inner awareness
-
Deepening the sense of touch
-
Over 2hrs of quality bodywork techniques and sequences
-
Practical focus on Zenthai techniques and the principles of the practice
Note: This training can be taken before or after Level 1. Together, these two modules form the foundation of the Zenthai Shiatsu 3-year certified therapeutic pathway.
Investment
Tuition
-
Early Bird: €400 until 30.12.2025
-
Regular / Late Bird: €500
Accommodation & Meals
-
Standard shared room (up to 4 people): €386
-
Double Room: €436
Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Total Investment:
-
Early Bird (shared room): €786
-
Early Bird (double room): €836
-
Late Bird (shared room): €886
-
Late Bird (double room): €936
A non-refundable deposit of €300 secures your place.
Payment plans available.
This course excellent introduction to Zenthai bodywork, and an opportunity to see if you’d like to pursue deeper learning in the modality.
The Yoga Farm – A Place that Breathes the Zenthai Spirit
The Yoga Farm is a living example of what it means to do what you love and to live with purpose. Nestled in the quiet beauty of the mountains, it’s a space created from the heart — where simplicity, authenticity, and conscious living guide every detail.
Here, Agnes and her family live what they teach. They’ve built this place by hand, using natural materials, homegrown food, and the pure energy of the land. It’s not a retreat centre built for show — it’s a home that opens its doors to those who value connection, community, and truth.
Just like in Zenthai Shiatsu, the essence of the Yoga Farm is about returning to what’s real — to movement with purpose, to nourishment that supports life, and to the balance between giving and receiving. The atmosphere invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the simplicity that brings peace.
During the training, this space becomes part of the teaching itself — the mountain air, the grounding energy of the land, and the wholesome vegan meals all nourish your body and spirit as much as the practices do. Between sessions, you’ll rest, walk in nature, or simply be still — feeling the same harmony and presence that lies at the heart of Zenthai.
The Yoga Farm isn’t just a venue. It’s a living field of mindfulness and love — a home that supports you in hearing your inner voice, finding your rhythm, and remembering what truly matters.
Meet Anja
Adventurous at heart and deeply connected to nature, Anja embodies a sense of balance, positivity, and open-hearted presence. She believes in saying yes to life’s experiences and walking the path with resilience, compassion, and joy.
A Zenthai Shiatsu therapist and 1000+ hour certified yoga teacher with a Master’s degree in Health Management, Anja has spent the past decade weaving together the worlds of yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and holistic touch. Her curiosity for Eastern wisdom began over ten years ago, when she wrote her first research thesis on TCM — a fascination that has accompanied her ever since through yearly TCM fasting journeys and dedicated yoga practice.
Her yoga path, which led her across Austria, Guatemala, Bali, India and Nepal naturally guided her toward Zenthai Shiatsu — a practice that felt like home. This calling took her to Australia, where she studied directly with Gwyn Williams, the founder of Zenthai Shiatsu, and later assisted him both in Australia and Europe.
Anja is now honoured to bring the first Zenthai Shiatsu Level One & Elements Training to Austria, sharing this heart-centered practice that blends movement, touch, and connection as medicine for body and soul.
With deep gratitude to Gwyn Williams, Abhi Jyoti, Sally Taylor, and the many other teachers who have shared their wisdom ~ and to the lands that held us as we journeyed deeper into the heart of Zenthai Shiatsu.
