Lasater Yoga: Deep Rest

Deep Rest is open to anyone seeking practical tools to recover from exhaustion and prevent burnout. No prior credentials are required, and there are no prerequisites to enroll. The course suits yoga practitioners interested in restorative approaches, as well as yoga teachers who want continuing education hours and a deeper understanding of the science behind rest.

The curriculum unfolds over four weeks. Week 1, Brain to Body, Body to Brain, looks at how consistent practice affects the immune system and the relationships between nerves, muscles, fascia, and perception. Week 2, Angels to Vagabonds, focuses on the vagus nerve and the effects of specific pranayama on heart rate variability. Week 3 covers Restorative Yoga in depth, including its effects on psychological and emotional well-being. Week 4 turns to Yoga Nidra, with a specific lesson on rest for reproductive health and the menstrual cycle.

Across the weeks, students study the neurobiology and physiology of stress, learn how research is reshaping the way asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, and restorative yoga are taught, and follow video tutorials of prop configurations, audio recordings of yoga nidra and pranayama practices, and PDF cheat sheets of the somatic practice series.

The course is taught by Mary Richards, a Phi Beta Kappa certified yoga therapist who began practicing yoga in 1992 and teaching in 2002. She holds a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy and a Bachelor of International Affairs, and authored Teach People, Not Poses, published by Shambhala in 2023. She is joined on screen by Lizzie, who demonstrates the practices throughout the program.

The format is fully self-paced. Lessons combine pre-recorded video instruction, audio recordings of yoga nidra and pranayama practices, and PDF cheat sheets students can keep. Two-hour sessions guide different yoga techniques for quietening the nervous system. Enrollment includes one full year of access to the course materials. Most students take about 20 hours to complete the program, working through it week by week or at a slower pace.

The curriculum unfolds over four weeks. Week 1, Brain to Body, Body to Brain, looks at how consistent practice affects the immune system and the relationships between nerves, muscles, fascia, and perception. Week 2, Angels to Vagabonds, focuses on the vagus nerve and the effects of specific pranayama on heart rate variability. Week 3 covers Restorative Yoga in depth, including its effects on psychological and emotional well-being. Week 4 turns to Yoga Nidra, with a specific lesson on rest for reproductive health and the menstrual cycle.

Across the weeks, students study the neurobiology and physiology of stress, learn how research is reshaping the way asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, and restorative yoga are taught, and follow video tutorials of prop configurations, audio recordings of yoga nidra and pranayama practices, and PDF cheat sheets of the somatic practice series.