Becoming a Yoga Nidra Facilitator
Yoga Nidra is a precise, powerful method that leads practitioners into conscious deep rest while awareness remains awake. This immersion supports you in understanding how and why Yoga Nidra works, so you can guide it with clarity, steadiness, and confidence.
Most people have never been taught how to rest while aware. They know how to sleep, distract, or mentally drift, but not how to enter intentional inner stillness. Yoga Nidra is a learnable process, and it gives you a reliable map to lead others into restoration at the level of body, mind, and subtle energy.
You will learn how to structure a complete Yoga Nidra journey, how to work with brain and nervous system states, and how to hold a steady field for deep integration.
In this training you will learn:
States of consciousness and the Yoga Nidra map
- Traditional stages and phases of Yoga Nidra practice
- Brain wave patterns and conscious deep rest
- How intention, awareness, and sequencing shape the inner journey
- Recognizing common student experiences in different stages
Nervous system and inner regulation
- How Yoga Nidra supports down regulation and resilience
- Basic nervous system and stress cycle foundations
- Working with fatigue, overwhelm, and hyperarousal through guided awareness
- Orienting practices that increase felt safety and receptivity
Structure and scripting
- The core components of a complete Yoga Nidra session
- Rotation of awareness and body sensing methods
- Breath awareness, opposites, imagery, and subtle sensing
- How to craft clear, simple, effective scripts
- Adapting length and depth for different settings
Language, voice, and pacing
- Tone and rhythm that invite rather than demand
- How to use repetition and simplicity to steady the mind
- Skillful pacing and the power of silence
- Non intrusive language that supports autonomy and choice
Adaptation and accessibility
- Chair and supported versions of Yoga Nidra
- Trauma aware and choice based approaches
- Working within your professional scope
- Adjusting for groups, private sessions, and therapeutic contexts
In this training you will learn:
States of consciousness and the Yoga Nidra map
- Traditional stages and phases of Yoga Nidra practice
- Brain wave patterns and conscious deep rest
- How intention, awareness, and sequencing shape the inner journey
- Recognizing common student experiences in different stages
Nervous system and inner regulation
- How Yoga Nidra supports down regulation and resilience
- Basic nervous system and stress cycle foundations
- Working with fatigue, overwhelm, and hyperarousal through guided awareness
- Orienting practices that increase felt safety and receptivity
Structure and scripting
- The core components of a complete Yoga Nidra session
- Rotation of awareness and body sensing methods
- Breath awareness, opposites, imagery, and subtle sensing
- How to craft clear, simple, effective scripts
- Adapting length and depth for different settings
Language, voice, and pacing
- Tone and rhythm that invite rather than demand
- How to use repetition and simplicity to steady the mind
- Skillful pacing and the power of silence
- Non intrusive language that supports autonomy and choice
Adaptation and accessibility
- Chair and supported versions of Yoga Nidra
- Trauma aware and choice based approaches
- Working within your professional scope
- Adjusting for groups, private sessions, and therapeutic contexts
This training is for you if you:
Soul of Yoga Institute offers this training in partnership with iRest Institute
Training Details:
- Dates: June 9-13, 2026
- Attend in Person or Live-streaming online with recordings made available for a limited time
- Synchronistic Participation Requirement: Live, in real time (in person or online) participation is required to receive an iRest Level 1 Certificate of Completion and classification as an iRest Level 1 Teacher. Attendance will be tracked during each session.
In person training location: Soul of Yoga Institute – 701 Garden View Ct, Encinitas, CA 92024
Early Bird Tuition: $1,495 (Available through May 9, 2026)
Tuition after 5/9: $1,695
Meet your Instructor
Ford Peck is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified Yoga Therapist, and has been a teacher of yoga and meditation for over 30 years.
After years of exploration in nondual traditions such as Tibetan Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta, and with teachers both in the US and in India, he found himself drawn to the depth and practicality of the teachings of iRest. He is a Senior iRest Trainer as well as an iRest Mentor and Supervisor. His passion is supporting students to find peace with their human experience and a true sense of being at Home in their non dual ground of Being.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is a guided inner practice often called yogic sleep. The body rests deeply while awareness is gently guided through specific stages of attention, breath, sensation, and imagery.
Are there any prerequisites for this training?
No prior experience in meditation or yoga is necessary.
Is Yoga Nidra the same as meditation?
It is a form of guided meditation with a specific structure. Unlike many seated practices, it is usually done lying down and follows a mapped sequence.
Is Yoga Nidra just sleep?
The body may appear asleep, but the aim is aware rest. Practitioners hover between waking and sleeping while following the guidance.
Who is Yoga Nidra good for?
It is supportive for stress, fatigue, burnout, sleep difficulty, emotional overload, and recovery. It is accessible to beginners and experienced practitioners.
Can Yoga Nidra help with stress and anxiety?
Yes, it often helps regulate the nervous system and reduce mental overactivity. Many people report improved sleep and emotional steadiness.
Is Yoga Nidra safe for people with trauma?
It can be supportive when taught in a trauma aware, choice based way. Teachers should stay within scope and offer grounding options.
Can I practice Yoga Nidra if I cannot lie on the floor?
Yes. It can be done in a chair or with supportive props. Comfort and stability matter more than position.
How is Yoga Nidra different from relaxation recordings online?
Yoga Nidra follows a deliberate inner progression and method. A trained guide understands the stages, pacing, and purpose behind each step, which creates a deeper and more reliable experience.