In a world that is constantly triggering our threat-response system, restorative yoga is such a treat for our nervous system. Described by teacher-trainer Leena as “babysitting souls” this experiential training was both an opportunity to be nurtured, as well as a rich source of learning to share the gift of intentionally slowing down and tuning into ourselves. Highly recommend this training!
EMPOWER DEEPER HEALING WITH
RESTORATIVE YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
2025 Program Dates: Jan 25-26, Mar 1-2 & Mar 29-30
Qualifies as Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Credits
Learn to harness the healing power of Restorative Yoga and apply it to your practice and to support your clients.
As a very gentle form of yoga, Restorative Yoga integrates supported resting postures, breathing techniques, and meditative relaxation. Together these practices allow the body to gently release areas of stiffness, gradually unwind tension, and find deep relaxation. You'll learn tried-and-true methods to calm the nervous system and learn trauma-aware ways to share these techniques for both mental and physical relaxation.
Our 45-hour training is perfect for yoga teachers, movement professionals, psychotherapists, RMTs, acupuncturists, coaches, caregivers and anyone who wants to integrate Restorative Yoga into their work and their life.
FYI: We typically offer this program every 2 years, so your next chance won’t be until 2027.
OUR TRAINING TAKES PLACE OVER 3 WEEKEND INTENSIVES:
Weekend 1: January 25-26- "Deeply Chill" Restorative Immersion (see note below)
Weekend 2: Mar 1-2 - Restorative YTT Part 1
Weekend 3: March 29-30 - Restorative YTT Part 2
Schedule:
- Saturdays: 1:00pm - 8:30pm (with 2 breaks)
- Sundays: 1:00pm - 5:30pm (with 1 break)
Plus: 15 hours of asynchronous learning & assignments including video lectures, self-practice and practicum.
*Note: If our Jan 25-26 weekend fills, we may open a second option on Feb 8-9. Get in touch if you'd prefer Feb 8-9 as your immersion weekend.
Our spots are limited to 17 In-Person participants so you get lots of personal attention and tonnes of luxurious props!
Save your spotPROGRAM CURRICULUM
Weekend 1: Deepening Your Restorative Practice
Fill your own cup so you can serve others more authentically. This weekend will be a blend of luxurious Restorative Yoga classes, plus self-reflection, meditation, and nervous system basics to help you delve deep into practices of rest.
10 hours in-person.
Weekend 2 & 3: The Art of Teaching Restorative Yoga
You’ll learn Restorative Yoga teaching techniques, sequencing, and modifications. Trauma-awareness will underpin all of our discussions. We’ll nerd out on how the nervous system works (including polyvagal theory) and explore ways to work with your own nervous system regulation to better hold space for others. We’ll also discuss best practices for teaching both in-person and online, and you’ll learn hands-on assists. You’ll continue to deepen your own practice and start to find your voice as a Restorative Yoga facilitator. 20 hours in-person.
Practicum & Self Study
In our RYTT online portal you’ll have informative video lectures, sweet guided practice videos, and an engaging discussion forum. Through our supportive practicum you’ll get to lead and be led by your peers and receive invaluable feedback from classmates and faculty.
15 hours of asychronous learning.
TUITION RATES
Tuition for our program is $950+hst.
This includes the three weekends, plus a year's access to our recorded lectures and sessions, for you to review and continue to learn form.
Get a Tax Break from your Tuition!
As a Certified Educational Institution, your tuition is eligible for the tuition tax credit in Canada.
950+hst
register nowPayment Plans: We are dedicated to offering high quality training at accessible rates. Please contact us if you need a payment plan to make the training affordable. Please see below if you think you might qualify as low-income.
Equity Scholarships: We’ll be offering up to 3 Equity Scholarship spots at 25-50% discount to folks who identify as a marginalized identity such as racialized, trans or disabled, or for folks whose households qualify as low income. Please click here to download a scholarship application and email it to us by December 15th to be considered (we've extended the date from Dec 1st).
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Hi! We're Leena Miller Cressman and Emma Dines.
Leena is the Owner & Founder of The Branches Yoga (previously Queen Street Yoga) and has been teaching Restorative Yoga since 2009. Her approach to restorative practices has been influenced by studies with Liz Koch of Core Awareness and her own intuitive experience using yoga to support her mental health.
Emma has been teaching yoga since 2010, is a certified Yoga for Round Bodies Teacher, and is passionate about making the practice of yoga doable for a broad range of bodies. Her approach to restorative yoga blends the poetic and elemental wisdom of Ayurveda with a practical understanding of what it takes to guide our nervous systems towards rest in a busy world.
Why Practice Restorative Yoga?
Restorative yoga is a powerful healing tool that helps to reduce stress and support the body’s innate responses toward balance and health. As a very gentle form of yoga, restorative yoga integrates resting postures, breath techniques, and meditative relaxation. In restorative postures we use props such as bolsters and blankets to fully support the body in different resting positions.
While resting in these fully supported poses, tightness and tension in muscles and connective tissue can gently release and areas of stiffness can gradually unwind, leading to more ease, greater range of motion, and better whole-body alignment. Many restorative postures help to create more space and freedom in the movement of the respiratory diaphragm and therefore can facilitate deeper, more easeful breathing. In each restorative posture we encourage awareness of breathing and meditative focus to help calm the nervous system and profoundly relax the body and mind.
Restorative Yoga techniques may be helpful in the treatment of nervous system disorders such as insomnia, hypertension, anxiety, and specific ailments such as skin conditions and infertility, and may be especially helpful for improving mental health. Restorative postures and sequences can be modified to target specific organ systems, sensory integration, mental/emotional qualities, and the energetic qualities of each unique season.
This training is designed for yoga teachers and anyone wanting to share Restorative Yoga with others. In the past our Restorative YTT has been attended by a wonderful blend of yoga teachers, psychotherapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, life coaches, caregivers and other folks who want to integrate restorative yoga into their work and/or their lives more deeply.
Our program will help you deepen your understanding of a wide array of Restorative Yoga postures, relaxation and meditative techniques, physical alignment, nervous system function, breath physiology, and energetics. This will provide you a wide scope of tools to use in your practice and your teaching. Our holistic approach along with lots of individualized guidance and attention will help you deepen your understanding of the key postures, how to sequence them for the greatest effect, and how to use restorative yoga to assist with common challenges such as insomnia, headaches, anxiety, back pain, menstrual difficulties, and infertility.
Specific skills include:
Learn to practice and teach a wide variety of restorative postures with numerous modifications depending on the needs of the person and available props.
Feel empowered and inspired to practice Restorative Yoga and relaxation techniques on your own and share these tools with others.
Improve your ability to see/feel imbalances in the body more clearly and to use restorative poses and breathing techniques to bring greater balance.
Explore ways to find comfort, ease agitation, and increase mental and emotional calming.
Learn to balance and sequence postures for particular therapeutic effects.
Understand how the nervous system works (including polyvagal theory) and explore ways to work with your own nervous system regulation to better hold space for others.
Consider trauma-informed approaches to practice and teaching.
Learn best practices for teaching online.
Learn hands-on assists to help students find more comfort and ease in their poses.
The majority of our training is in-person over the course of 3 weekends totalling 30 hours of training time. It’s expected that you plan to attend these sessions in full. However, all sessions will be recorded and they will be available for you to review for 6 months. If you have unexpected illness or need to miss a small portion, you can catch up on the recorded content and still complete your certification.
There are also 15 hours of Asychronous (at your own pace) learning via On-Demand practice videos, lectures, and practice teaching exercises that are to be completed between and after the weekends. Complete all components by the end of May 2023 to obtain your certification.
Join our email list for updates and deep thoughts, plus free resources & gifts for your home practice.
SIGN UP HERE