Teaching restorative yoga can be a deeply rewarding experience

Teaching restorative yoga can be a deeply rewarding experience. It is a therapeutic practice that soothes the nervous system, calms the mind and boosts the immune system.

It is important for a teacher to provide clear verbal instructions during transitions in class. This will help students mindfully move props out of the way and prepare for the next pose without distraction.

Choosing a Training Program

It's important to find a training program that is right for you, whether you are new to yoga or are an experienced teacher looking to add Restorative yoga to your teaching. Choose a program with a diverse range of teachers, including senior level practitioners who are skilled and knowledgeable but also approachable and open to discussion.

The more information you can gather about a Restorative yoga teacher training program, the better. Look at the curriculum to see if it covers everything you want to learn and consider how much time you would like to spend on your yoga teacher training. For example, some programs are intensive and can last a month or more.

It's also worth considering if you will be traveling for the training or if it's a residential experience, or both. These factors can impact the cost of a course as well as how much time you have to prepare for it.

Proper Warm-Up Exercises

Proper warm-up exercises are essential in any yoga class, but they're particularly important for restorative classes. They help to increase blood flow, and they can also prepare students' bodies for deeper poses. Seated warm-up movements are a good place to start. For example, the cat-cow pose is a great back, shoulder, and spine stretch. It starts in table pose, and then you inhale to arch your back upward while exhaling to round it forward.

Another important part of a good restorative class is the savasana at the end. This is when your students are most likely to let go of stress and emotional baggage, so it's important to make this part of the class last as long as possible.

The goal of restorative yoga is to create a calming environment that allows the body and mind to release tension. This type of yoga is gentle and relaxing, making it ideal for beginners or those with chronic stress. It also uses lots of props, such as blankets, bolsters, and eye pillows, to provide support for the body.

Preparing Your Classes

A key part of restorative yoga is supine poses, which are done on the back. It is important for a teacher to be familiar with these poses so that they can teach them effectively to students of all levels.

It is also necessary to know how to adapt traditional correcting techniques for restorative classes. Instead of looking for what is wrong with a student’s pose, the teacher needs to teach them how to adapt the postures to their individual bodies.

Teachers should also be aware that restorative classes often involve long periods of silence. This can be a challenge for new teachers, who may feel uncomfortable with the empty space. To combat this, the teacher should provide clear cues as they begin and end each pose. For example, they can use a chime to indicate the end of a pose or simply tell students how much time remains. This will help them stay focused and avoid wasting time.

Teaching Techniques

Unlike more rigorous yoga styles, restorative poses don't require a lot of strength or stamina. That being said, they still pose a risk for injury if performed incorrectly. That's why it's important for restorative yoga instructors to be very clear about how each pose should be held. In the beginning of each class, they should also spend a few minutes on eliminating tension and preparing students for their relaxation sessions.

A major part of restorative yoga is the yogic concept of Pratyahara, or sense withdrawal. It's a powerful practice that helps students to quiet the mind and triggers the body's parasympathetic nervous system response, which lowers stress levels and promotes a feeling of calm. This is why it's important for restorative teachers to make sure that their studios are quiet, and there are no distractions.

Whether you're an experienced yoga teacher or looking to expand your knowledge of this healing style, restorative yoga teacher training is the perfect way to get started. YACEP-approved courses like this one are designed to provide the tools you need to be a successful restorative yoga instructor.