year 1 of the practitioner training starts in march 2026

Bellingwolde, Netherlands (2.5 hours from Amsterdam)

4 weeks of training, across 9 months

year 1: Foundational studies

Location: Land of Yemaya, Main Road 166, 9695 AS Bellingwolde, NL

Training Dates for 4 Modules:

  • March 8-15, 2026

  • June 7-14, 2026

  • September 13-20, 2026

  • December 6-13, 2026

Tuition / Investment:
€6.400*

Early Bird: €5.500 (valid until Dec. 15th)

  • Your tuition fee covers the training, food and accommodation for the duration of your stay.

    This includes:

    • Tuition Fee for all 4 Modules

    • Shared accommodation: 7 nights x 4 modules = 28 nights accommodation

    • 3 meals per day during the training

    • Coffee, tea and snacks

    • Unlimited use of the wood fire sauna and natural swimming pool

    • Didactic video material, provided by the Grinberg Method

    In terms of start and finish times:

    • You can check into the venue from 6pm on the first day of each module.

    • Check out is by 12pm on the last day of each module.

    • 2 mandatory private lessons with the teacher (€120 per session) if you want to progress to Year 2

    • End-of-year supervision (€120) if you want to progress to Year 2.

please note:
Becoming a Grinberg Method Practitioner is a three-year professional training program

To certify as a Grinberg Method Practitioner, you'll need to complete 3 years of study and pass practical assessments at the end of each year.

Once certified, there is also the possibility of being part of the International Association of Practitioners (IAGMP), which provides support to professionals and quality assurance to customers.

The upcoming training starting in March 2026 covers Year 1: Foundational Studies. Once you have completed and passed year 1, you will qualify for year 2 (starting in 2027).

In Year 1, you will learn fundamental skills of attention & body awareness

ABOUT YEAR 1: BUILDING FOUNDATIONS

Your first year is dedicated to becoming a student of your own body. You'll learn how to sustain attention, breathe freely, and recognize habitual tensions. Through direct practice, you'll explore:

  • Foot assessment: identifying patterns through the structure of the feet

  • Working with the body to transform pain and release fear

  • Developing the four qualities of touch:
    Air, Fire, Water, and Earth

  • Teaching clients the basics of body awareness, breathing, silence, and energy

By the end of Year 1, you'll be able to lead a basic bodywork process with clients, helping them pay attention to their bodies, transform pain, and let fear flow naturally.

After Year 1, you can choose progress to Year 2 by completing 2 mandatory private lessons with a teacher (€120 per lesson) plus an end-of-year supervision (€120). Note: These private sessions are not included in the tuition fee.

  • The second year takes you further, into the realm of automatic reactions and the deeper patterns behind them. You'll learn to:

    • Recognize and interrupt emotional and mental patterns in the body.

    • Teaching clients the experience of STOPPING-choosing not to reproduce what they no longer want in their lives.

    • Expand your ability to read the body through advanced foot assessment

    • Work with a client's personal history, moods, emotions, and needs.

    • Refine your touch with advanced precision techniques.

    At the end of Year 2, you'll be able to lead longer and more complex processes, supporting clients in stopping damaging physical, emotional, and mental patterns.

  • Your third year brings together everything you've learned, refining your capacity to work as a professional practitioner. You'll study how to:

    • Work with clients in multiple positions, including standing.

    • Develop clarity in description and precision in guiding processes.

    • Teach perseverance and discipline to your clients, while embodying them yourself.

    • Use sMove and over 100 body attention exercises to expand awareness and vitality.

    • Create individualized training programs for each client.

    • Learn the foundations of recovery to support the body's self-healing power.

    By the end of Year 3, you'll be able to lead full learning processes, tailoring them to the unique needs and situations of each client, and accompanying them in connecting tools learned in the process to their real-life

A MULTI-LAYERED TEACHING STYLE

Each module is taught holistically through the mind and body. Each teaching module includes:

  • LECTURES: On different forms of touch and bodywork styles.

  • BODYWORK DEMONSTRATIONS: Learn through observing teachers.

  • GIVE & RECEIVE BODYWORK SESSIONS: Hands on skill development.

  • BODY AWARENESS TRAINING: Attention exercises to sensitise your body.

Learning to teach through the body with attention, touch, and movement. It’s described as both a professional and personal transformation journey

Where you learn to guide others while deepening your own development…

FAQS

Please contact us if your question is not answered here.

general training

  • The training is for anyone who wants to develop a career in somatic therapy. You might be a yoga teacher / massage therapist or dancer but now desire to become a specialist. Perhaps you are a coach and now want to go beyond just asking questions. Or you are someone who loves learning through the body and would like to deepen your intuition and understanding.

  • The training covers 4 modules.

    • March 8-15, 2026

    • June 7-14, 2026

    • September 13-20, 2026

    • December 6-13, 2026

    In terms of start and finish times:

    • You can check in to the venue from 6pm on the first day.

    • Check out is by 12pm on the last day.

  • We are in the process of getting this training accredited through several official Dutch institutions.

    Practitioners of the Grinberg Method can apply to several Dutch (mental) health associations.

  • For Dutch standards this is hbo-level. Internationally this would be a bachelor level training.

  • There are no absolute medical contraindications for joining the training. However, the program is intensive and physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. Severe untreated physical or psychological conditions that significantly limit participation may be a contraindication. Suitability is assessed during the mandatory intake interview with a licensed Grinberg Method teacher.

  • Yes. After year one you are already qualified to work as a professional of level one (if you pass for the supervision). 

  • On average this training requires a time investment of 10-15 hours per week.

enrolment

    1. First you let us know your interest through email (find the contact form and email adres here). We will get back to you within 48 hours.

    2. Then we’ll do an interview to see if the training is a fit for you.

    3. After this interview you will receive an enrolment form.

    4. Once the enrolment form is signed and the tuition is payed, your spot is secured.

  • No, you only sign up one year at the time. Due to the supervision at the end of the year it is not possible to already sign up for the years ahead. Once your supervision is passed, you will be offered the enrolment form for your next year.

  • To join this training you need a basic knowledge of English, written as well as spoken English. Then you need a genuine interest to work with people.

    Besides that there is no other experience needed.

  • No. This is due to pre-made reservations with the retreat center. We are aiming to keep the price as friendly as possible. We can only do this if we make a full package price with the retreat center and the cooks who are preparing our food. 

Travel

  • Land van Yemaya
    Hoofdweg 166
    9695 AS Bellingwolde
    The Netherlands
    https://www.landvanyemaya.nl/
    Google Maps»

  • 1) BY CAR
    We recommend using a GPS service such as Google Maps or Waze for the most accurate directions. Ample free parking is available on-site.

    From Amsterdam / Schiphol (2.5–3 hours):
    Take the A1, then A6, and continue on the A7 towards Groningen. After passing Groningen, stay on the A7 and take exit 46 (Winschoten/Heiligerlee). From there, follow local signs to Bellingwolde.

    From Groningen (approx. 45 minutes):
    Take the A7 towards Hoogezand/Winschoten. Exit at 46 (Winschoten/Heiligerlee) and follow signs to Bellingwolde.

    2) BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
    The nearest train station is Winschoten. Plan your journey via ns.nl/en; most routes connect through Groningen Central Station.
    From Winschoten station, the final 15 minutes can be completed by local bus (stopping very close to our entrance) or by pre-booked taxi. For real-time bus schedules, check 9292.nl/en.

    3) BY AIR
    We recommend flying into Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). From there, you can take a direct train to Groningen (approx. 2 hours) and continue to Winschoten, or rent a car for the full journey.
    Smaller regional airports such as Groningen Airport Eelde (GRQ) and Bremen Airport (BRE) in Germany may also be convenient, with limited European connections.

    4) LOCAL TAXI SERVICES
    For taxis from Winschoten station or other local journeys: 

    • Snel Een Taxi Winschoten – online booking

    • Taxi Dorenbos – +31 592 615 000

food & accommodation

  • Yes, the price shown on this website includes accommodation and food for the 4 modules of your year. 

  • No. This comes as one package. 

  • Yes. Depending on your restrictions / dietary preferences there will be a small extra fee added to your total costs.

  • No. All meals will be vegetarian. Special dietary restrictions / preferences will be possible (for a small extra fee). 

  • The tuition fee is based on shared accommodation and shared bathrooms. There might be a possibility to have your own room for an additional fee, subject to availability. Please get in touch asap

payment

  • Yes. We offer the possibility to pay up to 10 instalments. 

  • For special cases, we might be able to provide small discount for those who need financial assistance. This will be assessed on a case by case bases.

  • No. This comes as one package. 

ABOUT THE LOCATION

Land of Yemaya is nested in the peaceful countryside of Bellingwolde, in the north of the Netherlands, Land van Yemaya is a retreat center surrounded by wide skies, open fields, and the gentle presence of nature. It’s a place where time slows down, the air feels fresh and clean, and the mind can rest, allowing the body to truly listen, learn, and renew.