Florian Hockenholz
Pain therapy & medical yoga
In my work, I combine evidence-based pain therapy, functional training therapy, and medical yoga into a holistic therapeutic approach. For over 25 years, I have been passing on my knowledge to colleagues in the field of therapy at universities and in training and continuing education courses.
A therapy concept that gets people moving again
For almost 30 years, I have been teaching continuing education courses in the fields of pain therapy, active movement therapy, yoga, and yoga therapy. Drawing on this long-standing experience, I completely revised my integrated, comprehensive therapy concept in 2024 and adapted it to the latest evidence. It is aimed at therapists who care for people with chronic pain, patients in neurology, oncology, internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, and other medical fields.
The focus is on a clear approach:
Activity first.
The aim is to help people return to an active, self-determined life. Passive treatment techniques are deliberately taken to the background and are only used where no meaningful active alternative is possible. The focus is on movement, resilience, self-efficacy, and sustainable therapy.
Three approaches to the concept
All three paths lead to you being able to complete the practical courses. You decide which path suits you best.
Path 1: Pain Therapy – Basic Course
The basic pain therapy course consists of four e-learning modules that build on each other. They provide structured, practical preparation for treating people with chronic pain and form the basis for all further specializations. This path is right for you if you want to focus primarily on treating chronic pain patients.
2. Path: Medical Yoga Teacher Training
For therapists and yoga teachers with a focus on yoga, the Medical Yoga Teacher Training offers a modern, therapeutically sound approach. The concept is based on Hatha Yoga and integrates meditation and breathwork. It qualifies you to lead yoga classes in prevention, therapy, and rehabilitation. This concept is a good starting point for you if your focus is on active group activities.
3rd path: Yoga Therapy Basic Course
The direct path to individual therapy. This training is aimed at anyone who wants to learn specific, one-to-one treatment techniques without delving deeply into theoretical models. The focus is on immediate application with patients.
All three approaches lead to the same goal:
Therapy that empowers people, activates them, and makes them more independent in the long term.
Regardless of which entry point into the concept you choose, the basic training is followed by an in-depth practical phase. This comprises a total of six specialized courses in which the knowledge previously acquired is systematically transferred into practical application.
You can completethe following specialized courses flexibly:
as a pure self-study course in e-learning format
live online via Zoom
in person at continuing education institutes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Selected courses also take place in special learning environments on La Gomera and Mallorca.
The 3 paths to the concept
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Pain therapy basics
In 4 e-learning modules, you will learn the basics of modern pain therapy. For anyone who wants to specialize in pain management, this is the place to start. You can then complete the practical courses.
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Medical Yoga Teacher
If group exercise is your key to prevention, therapy, and rehabilitation, then choose this path. You do not need any prior knowledge of yoga. You can then complete the practical courses.
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yoga therapy
If you want to learn practical knowledge for treatment 1:1 without getting too involved with theoretical models, take the basic yoga therapy course. You can then take the practical courses.
Florian Hockenholz
Physiotherapist, osteopath & yoga, meditation & breathing teacher, massage therapist with more than 26 years of professional experience
Over 3,000 live seminar days in 25 years in the DACH region, internationally in German and English. Another 500 days of live online workshops.
Over 35,000 participants in my courses and workshops
Provider of online courses & further training for therapists & patients
Owner of 2 yoga studios in Berlin and 1 on La Gomera (until 2024)
Owner of a private physiotherapy practice in Berlin
(until 2025)Owner of a non-medical massage practice in Berlin (Ayurveda & Thai Yoga massages)
Author, co-author and editor of specialist articles and books on the subject of pain therapy:
'Physiotherapy for pain' (Thieme Verlag)
'Therapy for all body systems - evidence-based tests and therapy' (Thieme Verlag)
'NAP - Neuroorthopaedic Therapy' (Thieme Verlag)
All courses are also available as self-paced courses—100% digital
All of my courses are intentionally designed to be self-paced. This means you set the pace—no fixed schedule, no set deadlines, and no external requirements.
You’ll have access to all the content—including videos, scripts, and supplementary materials—and can use it in whatever way best fits your daily routine and learning style. Whether you set aside time each day or work through several pieces of content at once over longer periods is entirely up to you.
There are no mandatory assignments, no submission requirements, and no exams at the end of the course. You don’t have to “achieve” anything, hand anything in, or pass anything. The focus isn’t on assessment, but on your own learning process.
👉 You learn independently, flexibly, and at your own pace.
👉 You decide how deeply you want to delve into the material and which topics to cover and when.
👉 You tailor your professional development to fit into your life—not the other way around.
This creates a learning environment that not only imparts knowledge but also fosters the attitudes that are at the heart of this course: personal responsibility, self-awareness, and a mindful approach to oneself.
Who is this format particularly suitable for?
These courses are specifically designed for people who are unable to commit to a lengthy, time-bound training program.
You can incorporate these courses into your life in whatever way works best for you:
With just 20 minutes a week, you can start incorporating new content and gradually integrate it
You can take breaks on purpose without falling behind
or dive in more deeply on your days off, when you have more time
This makes this format particularly valuable for people who have very busy daily lives:
due to work and a heavy workload
through family and children
due to caring for family members
or during life stages when there is little time available for planning
Even for those who don’t want to or can’t travel regularly, this course offers a clear alternative to traditional in-person training. No travel expenses, no hotel costs, no time off work, no time away from family, … .
You won't be learning within a set framework—instead, you'll build your knowledge step by step, at your own pace, and in harmony with your life.
Pain therapy
Refresher course
Fancy spending five days in a beautiful country house in Wandlitz near Berlin? During the day, I will teach you everything you need to know about pain therapy that has changed in 2025/2026. We will spend the evenings cooking together, relaxing in the cozy living room, or enjoying the sauna.
Register in good time, as almost half of the places are already taken again this time.