An increasingly popular form of yoga practice, Restorative Yoga is accessible, effective and timely. 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:
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Support back pain, headaches, digestive and menstrual issues and breathing problems
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Enhance recovery from illness
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Create a quieter mind and better self-awareness, which in turn creates the ability to respond and not react
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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.
Course content
In this course we will explore the philosophy, technique, practicalities and benefits of Restorative Yoga including:
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The history and physiology of stress including a look at the autonomic and limbic nervous systems
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Looking at two stress responses: fight-or-flight and tend-and-befriend (and why stress isn’t always a bad thing)
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Regulating stress through yoga
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A spiritual look at stress
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The conditions that Restorative Yoga supports, including chronic fatigue, burnout, chronic pain and mental tension and those mentioned above
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Restorative yoga as a gateway to mediation
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How to incorporate yoga philosophy, namely looking at pratyahara, dhyana and samadhi
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Reflecting on energetic anatomy i.e. chakras and apana vayu
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Restorative Yoga asana
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How to teach - practical considerations and contraindications including length of time in postures, sequencing, the use of equipment (or lack thereof) and teaching online
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Experience teaching your fellow students and being taught by them
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The use of adjustments
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Creating a relaxing environment
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Language, adjustments and trauma sensitivity
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How to incorporate Restorative Yoga into a Hatha-based class
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Whether pranayama helpful or harmful in a restorative yoga class
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The use of silence in class
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What to do with students who are unable to settle
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Giving and receiving healthy and useful feedback
How this course will work
This course will be delivered by Mel in person at St Werburgh's Community Centre, Bristol across two weekends (18-19 February and March) with session running from 9am to 5pm each day.
You will be required to spend 8 hours of your own time planning two restorative classes and teaching at least one. You will be required to submit both class plans, and a reflection on how the taught class went.
What you get & what it counts for
You will receive:
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Comprehensive manual and workbook of approx 70 pages including space for your own reflection
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Option to join yoga teachers’ support group at discounted rate
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40 hours CPD certified by Yoga Alliance and 40 hours towards the 300 hour TTC
Course Trainer - Mel Skinner
Mel has been studying and practising restorative yoga since 2013. In 2020 she wrote her first book, Rest Is Radical, inspired by experiences of teaching and practicing both restorative yoga and yoga nidra.
"I aim to teach in a way that is practical, non-dogmatic, grounded and yet rooted in the spirituality of yoga. I work 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."