Three broad areas of learning form the architecture of this training – Recognition, Responsibility + Resilience. An empowered learning environment with fellow teachers helps build confidence and creativity in designing ongoing Restorative Yoga classes that serve our communities.
Day 1: Recognition involves understanding better how stress impacts the nervous system + overall health and what to do about it. Not only does this day review how to recognise the signs of stress, it also covers how stress becomes acclimatised and no longer seen. By understanding the complexity and pervasiveness of stress in relation to modern living, as well as drawing insight from Polyvagal Theory, we can help students learn to recognise stress and manage it well through Restorative practice and meditation.
Learning Outcome: Understand and recognise the way stress impacts health and wellbeing and how Restorative Yoga can help.
Day 2: Responsibility (the ability to respond) shines the light of awareness on behaviours/patterns that contribute to stress and interfere with the movement back into balance. Utilising atma vichara style self-enquiry, this day seeks to uncover unconscious or negative thought constructs, tensional holding patterns and behavioural tendencies which contribute to imbalance and ill health. It also spotlights language and culture which may contribute to stress. A contemplative, dialogical ‘felt’ process allows space to reflect, heal and take ‘responsibility’.
Learning Outcome: Understand better personal patterns/behaviours that contribute to stress and map new pathways for balance.
Day 3: Resilience addresses the skill of moving back into balance and considers the role of the Restorative Yoga teacher in facilitating a process of release in a safe space that addresses challenges such as feeling vulnerable and not in control. This day engenders empowered action and a compassionate stance that supports a culture of wellbeing. It takes a closer look at how different Restorative poses support down regulation of the nervous system serving as a a powerful tool for moving back into a centred and grounded state.
Learning Outcome: Understand better how the the Restorative Yoga teacher can facilitate down regulation of the nervous system through design, cues and understanding the poses.
