This training takes place over 2 weekends in Bristol with Mel Skinner.

40 hour course: 32-hours training plus 8 hours self-study certified by Yoga Alliance

You can use these 40 hours towards your full 300 hour Advanced Teacher Training with Shanticentre Training School. 

Full details can be found here: 

https://www.stephanieshanti.com/restorative-yoga-teacher-training

An increasing popular form of yoga practice, Restorative Yoga is accessible, effective and timely. 

A poll by the Mental Health Foundation in 2018 showed that in that year, 74% of people have felt so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope. 

Since that we have lived through a global pandemic, and potentially seen a big increase of stress, anxiety and depression within our communities and perhaps in our own lives.

Whilst stress is not always a negative thing, an overload of stress can lead to a variety of health problems, including altering our behaviour and affecting our psychological well-being. It is becoming increasingly important for yoga teachers (and those working in a therapeutic setting with others) to understand the role of the body in the experience of stress.

Restorative Yoga is a powerful tool which is accessible to all. Drawing its roots from Iyengar yoga, with an emphasis on props, alignment and technique, it has been shown to heal the impact of chronic stress, as well as:

• Support back pain, headaches, digestive and menstrual issues and breathing problems
• Enhance recovery from illness
• Create a quieter mind and better self-awareness, which in turn creates the ability to respond and not react
• Balance anxiety and lift depression, calming the mind and energising the body

This course will be limited to 15 students to allow for intimacy of learning and connection.

WEEKEND ONE: FEBRUARY 18TH - 19TH 2023 

WEEKEND TWO: MARCH 18TH - 19TH 2023 

TIME: 09:00-17:00 

VENUE:  St Werburghs Community Centre (ROOM 12) OR ONLINE 

Full price £495. 

Non refundable deposit of £105 needed to confirm your booking on this training.  

Syllabus

In this course we will explore the philosophy, technique, practicalities and benefits of Restorative Yoga including:

• The history and physiology of stress including a look at the autonomic and limbic nervous systems
• Looking at two stress responses: fight-or-flight and tend-and-befriend (and why stress isn’t always a bad thing)
• Regulating stress through yoga
• A spiritual look at stress
• The conditions that Restorative Yoga supports, including chronic fatigue, burnout, chronic pain and mental tension and those mentioned above
• Restorative yoga as a gateway to mediation
• How to incorporate yoga philosophy, namely looking at pratyahara, dhyana and samadhi
• Reflecting on energetic anatomy i.e. chakras and apana vayu
• Restorative Yoga asana
• How to teach - practical considerations and contraindications  including length of time in postures, sequencing, the use of equipment (or lack thereof) and teaching online
• Experience teaching your fellow students and being taught by them
• The use of adjustments
• Creating a relaxing environment
• Language, adjustments and trauma sensitivity
• How to incorporate Restorative Yoga into a Hatha-based class
• Whether pranayama helpful or harmful in a restorative yoga class
• The use of silence in class
• What to do with students who are unable to settle
• Giving and receiving healthy and useful feedback

 WHY STUDY WITH MEL? 

She has been studying and practising restorative yoga since 2013. In this time it has been a regular part of her practice and has supported her in healing from fatigue, grief, burnout and anxiety and depression. 

In 2020 she wrote her first book, Rest Is Radical, inspired by my experiences of teaching and practicing both restorative yoga and yoga nidra. 

She aims to teach in a way that is practical, non-dogmatic, grounded and yet rooted in the spirituality of yoga. 

She works therapeutically with clients and groups in one-to-one settings, as well as classes, workshops and retreats, and I look forward to sharing you with you the skills, creativity, confidence and joy of teaching restorative yoga to others.

She teaches on shanticentre Training School's 200 hour and 300 horu advanced Teacher Training courses specialising in Yoga Nidra and Restorative Yoga. 

 WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR: 

• Certified yoga teachers looking to begin to teach restorative yoga and expand their understanding of the practice as well as those wishing to use these hours towards a full 300 hour advanced yoga teacher training certification from Shanticentre Training School
• Therapists and body-workers looking to incorporate restorative yoga into their practice
• Serious yoga students looking to increase their understanding of restorative yoga

 HOMEWORK 

This course requires you to spend 8 hours of your own time planning two restorative classes and teaching at least one.

 A NOTE ON HEALTH 

Please be sure that you are safe and well before commiting to this course. You are responsible for your own safety and wellbeing.  This is an educational, not therapeutic space.

 WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE 

• Comprehensive manual and workbook of approx 70 pages including space for your own reflection
• 32 hours of teaching time
• Certification from Yoga Alliances
• Option to join yoga teachers’ support group at discounted rate
• Selection of teas throughout the day

 NOT INCLUDED: 

• Transport and accommodation
• Any takeaway food/coffees you choose to buy

 CERTIFICATION 

This course is certified through Yoga Alliance Professionals. You will receive by email a certificate for 40 hours of training from Mel Skinner Yoga, recognised by the Yoga Alliance. Full attendance and completion of homework is necessary to receive certification.

 PREPARATION - SUGGESTED (NOT ESSENTIAL) READING 

• Rest Is Radical - Mel Skinner
• The Breathing Book - Donna Farhi
• Relax and Renew - Judith Hanson Lasater