Yoga Nidra Teacher Training:
The practice of deep rest
40 hour course: 32 hours training plus 8 hours self-study certified by Yoga Alliance
2025 dates
Please note the Spring 2025 dates for this course has been postponed
WEEKEND ONE: tbc
WEEKEND TWO: tbc
TIME: 09:30-17:30
VENUE: tbc
Price
Full price - £555
Early bird - £520 (closes 12th December 2024)
Note: £145 is a non-refundable deposit. Payment plans are available. Please see my terms and conditions.
Teacher training bursary - two places available
I’ve always endeavoured to offer free and low-cost practices so I’m offering two bursaries places for my yoga nidra teacher training course, a discount of 30%, so the total cost of the course is £388.50 (payment plans will be available). If you’re not sure if you are eligible for the scholarship, please consider your financial situation, and also if you feel under-represented in the yoga community. If you feel like you are eligible, please get in touch with me and tell me your reasons for applying.
Looking to really learn radical rest?
Are you looking to deepen your study of restorative, a perfect companion to yoga nidra? Purchase both courses for £1000 (payment plans available).
About the course
Discover an ancient meditation technique that deeply relaxes the body and the mind in order to transcend beyond the ego and into a state of blissful peace.
Becoming increasingly popular as a tool for reducing stress and fatigue, yoga nidra also carries a rich philosophical history. This course will explore the historical timeline and philosophical context of yoga nidra, as well as introducing you to the three different schools of yoga nidra, iRest, Satyananda and Himalayan, and the similarities and differences between the three.
With theory providing our foundation, we will then begin the practice of giving and receiving yoga nidra. You will be encouraged to find freedom in your delivery, build confidence in your own voice and set yourself free from any limited ideas of what yoga nidra “should be”. We will look at the idea of san kalpa, the use of language and visualisations and how to keep students safe. You will discover the therapeutic benefits of yoga nidra, including the modern day application of yoga nidra for PTSD and why this is relevant for your classes.
Yoga nidra is a practice of transcendence. By allowing ourselves to release all physical, mental and emotional tension we can escape the limitations of the ego and the challenges of everyday life, and let ourselves open up to a place of stillness within. This is an invaluable gift in busy modern times, and a beautiful practice to share with students to allow them to experience the meditative bliss of yoga nidra.
This course will be limited to 10 students to allow for intimacy of learning and connection. The 40 hours is divided between 23.5 hours theory, 16.5 hours practice (including 8 hours of homework).
“I attended Mel’s Yoga Nidra teacher training and enjoyed every part of the 4-day course. Mel’s teaching style is incredibly calm, measured and insightful and I felt there was the perfect mix of front-led teaching along with practical exercises, discussion and even dancing and colouring in!
Mel was incredibly approachable throughout and would always make time to answer and explore questions and comments. From the very start we were given encouragement and opportunity to design and deliver our own unique Yoga Nidras, which left me feeling empowered and confident in my abilities to set up my own Nidra classes as soon as the course was complete.
I would highly recommend Mel’s courses to anyone wanting to explore yoga from an innovative, enjoyable and playful point of view. Training with Mel felt more like spending time with friends than learning and left me with confidence, excitement and enthusiasm to go it alone.”
Syllabus includes:
The history and philosophy of yoga nidra
The three different schools of yoga nidra and the variances in structure and style
The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of yoga nidra
The link between yoga nidra and the sleep cycle
How yoga nidra affects the brain
How to build creativity into yoga nidra
The role of san kalpa (intention)
Language - incorporating trauma awareness and the use of visualisations
How to (and whether to!) write your own yoga nidras
Receiving at least one yoga nidra practice at day
Sharing your experience of sharing yoga nidra so far
How to teach - practical considerations and contraindications
Experience teaching your fellow students and being taught by them
Giving and receiving healthy and useful feedback
“Mel’s Yoga Nidra intensive was wonderful in every aspect! As a course facilitator, Mel is a natural. The training was very well planned, full to the brim with thoughtful content and plenty of space for discussion, reflection and exploration.
This Yoga Nidra course is one of the best courses I’ve done; I felt very supported during the course and confident to go forth and offer my first yoga nidra classes. Mel holds the space very well and I would recommend her in a flash to anyone who wants to study and offer yoga nidra.”
“Mel’s training gave me the confidence to start offering Yoga Nidra in my classes straight away. She clearly communicated all the information that I needed to begin teaching, inspired me to be creative, and to explore different ways of teaching and practising myself.
Mel’s approach is non-dogmatic and down to earth, allowing me to explore each part of the practice in detail, considering different styles and approaches of each ‘school’ of yoga nidra. Her depth of knowledge and experience really shines through, alongside a deep respect and passion for the practice and teachings of yoga. I’d highly recommend this course.”
Why study with Mel?
I have been studying and practising yoga nidra since 2013, which included a five year intense yoga nidra practice. The practice has had a profound effect on me, including helping me to learn to relax at the deepest level. I have also had experience of unexpected and unsupported trauma release during yoga nidra, which has encouraged me to study the neuroscience behind the practice, and incorporate trauma sensitive techniques to keep students safe. In 2020 I wrote my first book, Rest Is Radical, inspired by my experiences of teaching and practicing both restorative yoga and yoga nidra.
I have drawn together some aspects of yoga philosophy to paint a picture of where yoga nidra comes from, as well as exploring the three different schools of 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 yoga nidra to others.
Who this course is for:
Certified yoga teachers looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of yoga nidra and develop confidence in teaching
Therapists and body-workers looking to incorporate yoga nidra into their personal practice
Regular yoga students (minimum two years continuous practice) looking to increase their understanding of the philosophy and practice of yoga nidra
Please note: a large part of the course is focused on the teaching of yoga nidra. You must be prepared to practice giving as well as receiving yoga nidra.
This course is open to yoga teachers and yoga students with at least two years of regular yoga nidra practice. If you are not a yoga teacher, but you would like to join this course, you will be required to complete a pre-requisite application. Click here to download the pre-requisite form.
Please note that if you are not registered with Yoga Alliance as a 200hour student, you will not receive their accreditation - however you are still welcome to join the course and will still receive a certificate.
Homework
This course requires you to spend 8 hours of your own time creating and delivering three yoga nidras. If you are unable to share these with other people, you are welcome to record yourself giving the practices. At least one of these yoga nidras must be recorded, either audio or video, and sent to me for assessment before the second weekend commences. Please note assessment is not based on exact technical detail as it is on creativity, confidence, pace, length and tone. The purpose of this is NOT to get anything right. It is to encourage you to find the confidence in your own voice, and to see for yourself the gift you have to share with others.
You will be asked to do this homework between the weekends. If you have problems completing this, please let me know as soon as possible. You will have time on both weekends to practice writing and delivering yoga nidra.
A note on health
Yoga nidra is an incredibly healing practice that has been proven to reduce stress, improve insomnia, support trauma recovery, and more. However, if you are experiencing serious mental health problems, such as psychosis, please consult your medical profressional before committing 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 78 pages including space for your own reflection
32 hours of teaching time
Accreditation from Yoga Alliances (200hr yoga teachers only) - everyone will receive certification from Mel
Option to join yoga teachers’ support group at a discounted rate
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.
*YAP certification is for certified yoga teachers only
Preparation - suggested (not essential) reading
Rest Is Radical - Mel Skinner
Yoga Nidra - Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Yoga Nidra: A meditative practice for deep relaxation and healing - Richard Miller
Enlightenment without God (Mandukya Upanishad) - Swami Rama
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - any translation
Terms and conditions
Please read and understand the terms and conditions before booking. Deposits are non-refundable although you can pass your place onto another person.