Yoga is renowned for its capacity to induce relaxation and alleviate stress. Within the realm of yoga practices, restorative yoga is a gentle form characterized by the prolonged holding of a few poses supported by props. Mastery of prop usage is essential for students, while effective teaching methods are paramount for instructors.
Online training programs offer flexibility and accessibility. Below, we highlight the four best online restorative yoga teacher training programs that provide comprehensive training. These programs allow participants to complete the course independently and earn a Yoga Alliance-approved certification. These programs are recognized for their quality curriculum, experienced instructors, and commitment to fostering a deep understanding of restorative yoga principles.
Article Topics
How do I get certified in Restorative yoga?
The first step to becoming a certified restorative yoga instructor is to complete a training course. You can proudly hang your certificate in your yoga studio or display a picture of it if you plan to teach restorative yoga online.
However, your training is not over once you complete the course. The Yoga Alliance requires all yoga instructors to accrue 30 hours of continuing education every three years. Therefore, you must find continuing education courses to meet this requirement and maintain your yoga teaching status.
Luckily, the Yoga Alliance recently changed its requirements for continuing education to allow 20 of the 30 hours of yoga studies to be taken online. Therefore, you will not have to leave home for 30 hours to maintain your teaching abilities. Many times, the initial course will also meet these requirements.
After completing the continuing education, you are typically required to take a brief quiz before receiving your certificate of completion. This ensures you have retained the continuing education knowledge throughout the hours of continuing education. It also helps you further develop your corrective yoga teaching methods.
How do I become a Restorative Yoga instructor?
Anyone can teach restorative yoga with proper training. You should choose a course that is registered with the Yoga Alliance, and the yoga studio must meet specific standards for their restorative instruction, including:
- Having both asynchronous instructions that include pre-taped videos and synchronous instruction so you can have live, real-time support
- A Lead Instructor must teach the courses at least half the time
- They are involved in the Yoga Alliance’s community so that they can have the proper resources available
Once you choose a course registered with the Yoga Alliance, you can also register with the Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). Since the Yoga Alliance ensures that some online training is asynchronous, most online courses will have a component that can be done on your own time.
The 4 Best Online Restorative Yoga Certifications in 2024
Online courses provide the flexibility needed to study anywhere and anytime. You can study in the privacy of your home, at a hotel, or anywhere you feel comfortable taking your classes. All of the online restorative yoga training courses below begin as soon as you register and offer lifelong access so that you can start and finish at any time. You can finish the courses in a few weeks or months or whatever best fits your schedule.
The teachers in the courses below offer Q&A via Zoom for extra online support on specific dates (comparable to “office hours” a college professor would have at a university). That way, you can get the one-on-one help needed to complete your training and attain your certificate to teach.
1. YogaRenew: Restorative Training Online
In this training from YogaRenew, you will gain the expertise to effectively set up restorative poses for yourself and others, understanding which poses are most beneficial for specific situations. You will also learn how to skillfully utilize props to support practitioners of all levels and adapt and modify poses when necessary. By the end of the training, you will possess the knowledge and tools to establish a personal restorative yoga practice and confidently sequence and teach restorative yoga classes.
Why we love this course:
- The philosophy, technology, practice, history, background, and the influential founders of this approach.
- Expert guidance on setting up restorative yoga poses for yourself and others, ensuring a safe and effective practice.
- There is an emphasis on self-care, recognizing that taking care of yourself is essential to extending care to others and deepening your understanding.
- Teaching methodologies for restorative yoga classes empower you to lead restorative yoga sessions confidently and provide a nurturing space for your students.
Fees and length
30 hours and $297 one-time payment
2. Yoga Bliss: Restorative Yoga Certification
Are you looking for proficiency in the art of relaxation and rejuvenation? Look no further than the 20-Hour Restorative Yoga Certification offered by Yoga Bliss. This course, led by the esteemed senior teacher Gwendoline Ferreira, provides the perfect opportunity to learn and experience the transformative practice of restorative yoga.
In this training, you will
- learn how to teach a restorative yoga class skillfully
- gain the expertise to design and set up your restorative yoga classes, learn the art of sequencing, and how to integrate restorative poses into other styles of yoga classes
- uncover the subtle nuances of using props, enabling you to offer personalized and nurturing adjustments to your students.
The training curriculum includes an in-depth exploration of restorative yoga postures and their variations and the benefits of guided meditation practices and breathwork. You will be equipped to guide restorative classes with confidence and compassion, creating a space for your students to unwind, release tension, and find inner peace.
Upon completion, you will receive 20 hours of Yoga Alliance continuing education credits, a bonus for those with a 200-hour yoga certification. Discover the profound benefits it holds for mind, body, and soul. Enroll now and experience the serenity and bliss that await you.
3. Siddhi Yoga: Restorative Teacher Training
This gentle yoga teacher training course from Siddhi Yoga is the next best thing for yoga instructors who desire a genuine immersion experience in Indian teachings of yoga while taking the course in their own homes.
This yoga institute is one of India’s leading yoga schools, with over two thousand yoga teachers training in over sixty countries. Once you enroll in this course, you will have lifetime access to the course lessons, quizzes, and:
- Fully guided support
- Accountability and assessments
- Access to a private online community
- Individualized feedback and support
- Certification of Completion
The following are some of the topics covered in Siddhi Yoga’s restorative yoga training:
- 30 different restorative poses.
- Gentle poses can be easily modified to mesh with a wide range of abilities and body shapes.
- The basics and history of restorative yoga.
- 10 practice sessions: This program teaches yoga instructors ten different themed restorative yoga sequences that they can use in their yoga studios once their training is complete.
- It isn’t as active as other forms of yoga, which may make some students skeptical of its advantages in the studio.
The Siddhi Yoga online restorative yoga training program is worth checking out if you’re seeking a restorative yoga certification from a renowned institution that focuses on authentic Indian yoga principles!
4. My Vinyasa Practice: Online Restorative Yoga Certification
My Vinyasa Practice’s restorative yoga certification is a fantastic alternative for busy yoga teachers seeking online certification. While the curriculum is designed to be studied in weekly formats and finished in four weeks, students can spend as much time as they need to comprehend the material thoroughly.
A significant advantage of choosing My Vinyasa Practice is that this online certification counts toward a Yoga Alliance continuing education certification, awarding you 40 non-contact credit hours.
Restorative yoga training at My Vinyasa Practice also covers the following topics:
- Using restorative yoga to aid in stress management
- Restorative asanas and using restorative yoga to help students who are healing from trauma or injury
- Dynamic sequences to be used as a cooldown for active students
- Incorporating sound, oils, and aromatherapy into restorative yoga workshops
- Standard rehabilitation practices for injury recovery
This course is ideal if you’re seeking a comprehensive course that will teach you all you need to know to become a restorative yoga instructor. It also offers various secondary study resources for this restorative yoga training course, such as pre-recorded lectures, instructional videos, lesson plans, and songs.
This course is perfect for students who want to improve their practice and teachers who wish to expand their knowledge!
Final Thoughts on Becoming a Restorative Yoga Teacher
Gentle yoga teacher training can be a rewarding experience. Whichever course you choose to begin your restorative yoga teacher journey, you should consider registering with the Yoga Alliance as a teacher to validate your students.
Looking for another type of yoga to teach? Check out adaptive yoga teacher training. There are so many types of yoga to learn because yoga adjusts to people.
