How do I become a Yoga Nidra teacher?
There are many courses available, both online and in person, or a combination of the two. Some Yoga Nidra teacher trainings are over a weekend, approx16 hours, others are 30, 50, 60 or 100 hours.
Obviously the longer the hours, the more you will learn about the theory of YN, and if a substantial proportion of these hours are your own YN practice, you’ll experience the transformative benefits of sustained practice. Then you’ll be in a position to teach from authentic personal experience.
The classicalyoga.co.uk course is approx 100 hours – 25 hours submission of assignment questions, and 75 hours personal practice over a period of 6 months. https://classicalyoga.co.uk/yoga-nidra-training/
Benefits are both immediate and cumulative – you’ll always feel more relaxed after a session, and committed daily practice brings profound changes. It is often transformative in terms of self-development, healing and releasing habitual reactions, which can have a detrimental affect on many aspects of our lives. Like all forms of meditation, daily commitment is essential for deep, sustained results.
I’m not a yoga teacher - can I teach Yoga Nidra?
Yes! Yoga Nidra is totally inclusive, anyone can practice it, regardless of religion, beliefs, fitness levels, or yoga experience. It excludes no one.
People from many professions have completed the course – counsellors, teachers of all kinds, massage therapists, osteopaths, artists, social workers, trauma and addiction therapists, nurses/care-givers, and mindfulness practitioners as well as yoga teachers.
They find it helps them become more effective in their own professions, more at peace and ease with themselves, and is a wonderful tool to share with their clients/patients/students. Some provide Yoga Nidra recordings to use between consultations and classes – this helps healing, as well as giving agency and empowering people to contribute to their own wellbeing.
Why are there so many different kinds of Yoga Nidra training?
A good question! The origins of Yoga Nidra can be traced back to Sankhya philosophy (first written down circa 700 BC but dating back to circa 1000 BC through verbal teaching). Many different styles of practice have now evolved, particularly since the 1970’s; currently new interpretations and courses are more prolific than at any other time.
Briefly, the most traditional approaches tend to focus attention in the body, make no suggestions as to how you will respond, and include silence. Contemporary styles tend to include guided visualisations and imagery, music and/or sound effects, suggestion and an absence of silence.
The classicalyoga.co.uk course https://classicalyoga.co.uk/yoga-nidra-training/ requires you to practice 3 completely different styles, from ancient to modern, so you can experience and understand what works for you and why. This also means you are familiar with the main styles of Yoga Nidra currently available, so when you teach you are well-informed.
The 3 scripts you will be immersed in come from the Satyananda, Amrit (Kamini Desai) and Himalayan traditions of Yoga Nidra.
What is sankalpa?
Sankalpa is a Sanskrit term meaning intention, resolution, heartfelt desire, or solemn vow. It comes from the Sanskrit root san, meaning "a connection with the highest truth," and kalpa, meaning to "vow." This intention is created by the individual, and needs to resonate fully with both the heart and the mind.
The purpose of repeating a sankalpa 3 times at the beginning and end of Yoga Nidra practice is to transform our lives physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This sankalpa is impressed on the subconscious mind, which is receptive to autosuggestion when body and mind are deeply relaxed.
Whilst many people use a sankalpa during Yoga Nidra practice, some don’t, either because they don’t find one that resonates completely with them, or because they trust the wisdom of the higher self to guide and transform them.
Yoga Nidra, practiced regularly with a good script, works extremely well with or without a sankalpa, which is a relatively modern addition to the practice.
How do you write a YN script?
Learning to write, deliver and record your own script can be quite a learning curve if you’ve never done anything like this before. This course and the mentoring provided give you all the help you need, including a wide range of sample written scripts to take some of the slog out of writing your own. https://classicalyoga.co.uk/yoga-nidra-training/
Delivering the script well is as important as the script itself, and you’ll get plenty of guidance and advice with this too.
How much help/mentoring will I get?
Jane is a highly experienced yoga teacher and trainer with over 45 years’ experience. Over 150 students have now graduated from this course – the best way to learn from their experience is to read their testimonials https://classicalyoga.co.uk/testimonials/ regarding support and mentoring.
Yoga Nidra training is an individual personal journey, sometimes challenging, always rewarding and fascinating. There are both commonly experienced and unique reactions/responses, as deep-seated tensions and habits/beliefs are released. Jane is very available to answer questions, to listen to your experience, and be a companion and mentor as you make this journey.
What is unique about this course?
3 things – firstly, studying 3 different styles of Yoga Nidra in depth; secondly, regular access to a genuinely available tutor via email, Skype or Whatsapp; thirdly creating, delivering and practicing your own script for the final month of the course.
Monthly online mentoring for small groups (max 8) is available to existing students and up to 1 year after graduating. It’s a valuable resource for new YN teachers, as well as a great way to share relevant experiences with like-minded colleagues/fellow students.