Restorative Yoga
Restorative yoga philosophy and practice.
Deborah Berryman
Trauma-Informed Restorative Yoga Teacher Training: 4-Day Immersion
An immersive training experience introducing the practice, concepts and teaching of Restorative Yoga, with a focus on the true importance and benefits of trauma-informed techniques.
Restorative Yoga is considered the true antidote to stress because it allows you to relax deeply with awareness, helping bring the mind and body into a state of balance or homeostasis.
Meet Restorative TT Graduate, Caroline Forrest
Caroline, an experienced yoga and mindfulness teacher, highly recommends Deborah’s Restorative Yoga Teacher Training. She found the course incredibly insightful, especially regarding trauma, body awareness, and stress management. Her personal experience, attending while sleep-deprived from caring for her young child, enriched her learning, allowing her to deeply embrace kindness and compassion.
She speaks highly of Deborah’s teachings, particularly about using kindness to combat stress and the importance of self-care for teachers. The training also highlighted the significant role of a teacher’s energy in creating a supportive and effective learning environment. Caroline’s experience transformed her approach and she enthusiastically suggests this course to anyone interested in deepening their yoga practice and teaching skills.
Teaching and Practicing Trauma-Informed Restorative Yoga can be a powerful tool in aiding the process of regulating the nervous system and help undo the effects of stress – bringing about a sense of feeling grounded, calm, relaxed and safe.
Event Summary
It’s easy to be swept away by the demands of modern life. Today’s pace of life means we are often in a state of high alert, causing our bodies to release stress hormones that stimulate the ‘fight or flight’ response. This affects our ability to sleep soundly, digest our food, focus, feel grounded, and even our ability to conceive a child.
When 1 in 3 adults report having experienced developmental trauma, it’s important we understanding trauma is about what has happened to the body, not what is wrong with the body. We will cover the neurobiology (brain and nervous system) and physiology (body operating systems) of trauma and prolonged stress (Complex/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and how to apply this wisdom into your teaching. This approach will also provide support with verbal cueing and set up of postures, sequencing, and creating a safe space for all students..
Whether just starting the journey as a Yoga Teacher, seeking to enhance existing teaching skills or simply wish to develop their personal practice, this course is a welcome study immersion for yoga teachers and teachers in training to refresh, renew and to deepen their practice and teach authentically, grounded both in self-awareness and experiential knowledge.
It’s also open to dedicated yoga students (minimum of 2 years consistent practice) wanting to deepen their understanding and practice of yoga, and health professionals (e.g. Osteopaths, Psychomotor Therapists) keen to broaden their knowledge and skills (please note, this wouldn’t certify you as a Restorative Yoga Teacher).
Course content
Key Topics
Click and drag the filmstrip below to explore the key areas covered throughout the training.
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Trauma-Informed Yoga
Trauma-informed yoga philosophy and practical application.
Neurobiology
The brain and nervous system in relation to prolonged stress and trauma.
Physiology
The body’s operating systems and the effects of prolonged stress and trauma.
Applied Wisdom
How to apply neurobiology and physiology wisdom into your teaching.
Propping Students
Techniques for propping students safely and effectively in postures.
Adjustments
Adjustments for different body types.
Supporting Practice
Supporting practitioners in the postures.
Holding Space
The art of skillfully holding space.
Leading a Class
Leading a full restorative group class.
Sequencing
The art of sequencing poses for an effective class, workshop and intention.
Student Experience
Being a student and experiencing a restorative practice.
Self-Development
Recognising personal stresses through meditation, reflection and restorative practice.
Course Hours
Deborah Berryman
Deborah Berryman is a senior yoga teacher with over 20 years’ experience. She has spent the past 15 years leading teacher trainings, specialising in trauma-informed, nervous-system-aware approaches. Her work particularly resonates with experienced practitioners and teachers who want to deepen their understanding and move beyond set sequences and techniques, into a more embodied, responsive way of working.
Her work is known for its depth and warmth, supporting practitioners to work intelligently with the whole system – moving out of trying to fix themselves and into a genuine sense of safety, trust, and self-connection in practice, teaching, and life.
Her training in Restorative Yoga includes study with Simon Low and many years studying with Judith Lasater, assisting her UK trainings and completing the Advanced Therapeutic Restorative Teacher Training.
Deborah is also a somatic movement educator and coach, supporting women through periods of transition and change. This integrated lens shapes her teaching – creating spaces that are both therapeutic and deeply attuned, where embodiment becomes a pathway to greater honesty, ease, and aliveness in everyday life.
Need to know more?
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the training, commitment, assignment and qualification.
About Restorative Teacher Training
You don’t need to have had experience of Restorative Yoga, but we strongly recommend you try out as many classes if you can. This will allow you to begin to understand the practice, both from a student and teacher perspective, and get the most out of the training.
Yes you can. If you are a dedicated yoga student (with a minimum of 2 years consistent practice) you are able to attend the course to deepen your knowledge and experience. You may choose to integrate this learning into your practice or even your field of work, but you will not be a qualified Restorative Yoga Teacher unless you have completed your foundation level Teacher Training (usually 200hr or equivalent). In this instance, you can still receive a Certificate of Attendance upon request.
Yes absolutely! All poses can be modified to take care of specific needs. Please let us know if there’s anything we should be aware of.
Yes, you will be provided with a course manual.
About The Commitment For Restorative Teacher Training
The course is a 50 hour course, which is made up of the following.
28 contact teaching hours
22 non-contact hours including:
– 10 Hours reading & reflection
– 12 Hours assignment including case study research, writing, practice and journaling
We make our cancellation and refund policy transparent – ensuring it’s available before booking, at the time of booking and also on your receipt confirmation – so you can make an informed decision. Please take time to read this carefully. All clients are asked to agree to Whitespace terms and conditions upon booking a course or workshop.
In the event of Whitespace cancelling an event:
you will receive a full refund, or the option of being transferred to another workshop or a credit to your Whitespace account.
In the event of you cancel an event place:
provided you have notified us within the cancellation window (see below), you can receive a refund (less deposit or admin fee), or the option of being transferred to another workshop or a credit to your Whitespace account
We regret no refund or transfer can be given outside of these terms, including if you are unable to attend due to illness, work, family or other reasons. Before committing to a course or event, please ensure you can attend the scheduled number of sessions to get the most out of the programme. This cancellation policy is firm.
Teacher Workshops & Intensives & 8 Week Mindfulness
+60 days before start date
refund less 10% admin fee
Transfer to Another Student
By You – If you cancel an event outside of the cancellation window, no refund will be available. You may pass your booking on to a friend at no additional cost (please arrange payment between you). We must be notified via email if a friend will attend in your place.
By Us – If the event is full and we can find someone on the wait list to take your place, we will offer you a refund less a 20% admin fee, or credit your Whitespace account for future purchases – valid for 1 year.
Leaving an Event
It is our aim and policy to facilitate students who may be experiencing difficulties either with the event or in other areas of their life, so they are able to complete the event. However, we understand that in some circumstances this is not possible, and students may feel they have no choice other than to leave a course or programme. In this instance we will be unable to give you a certificate or graduate you from the training, and your event fees cannot be refunded.
Teacher Availability
In the event where a teacher is unavailable due to illness or an emergency, an alternative teacher will be arranged wherever possible. For retreats, we strongly recommend participants have adequate insurance to cover any cancelled travel or personal expenses, as we cannot make reimbursements over and above our cancellation policy.
Booking Terms & Conditions
We do expect this Teaching Restorative Yoga Immersion Training course to fill up quickly and places are limited to ensure the best standard of training, and providing a personal and supportive learning experience. All applications and investments are subject to acceptance on to the training course. Deposit or full payment is required to secure your place (please see above). Please make sure you have read and understood our Cancellation Policy before you book.
Leaving the Training
It is our aim and policy to facilitate anyone who may be experiencing difficulties either with the training or in other areas of their life so they are able to complete the course. However, we understand that in some circumstances this is not possible and students have no choice other than to leave the course. In this instance we will be unable to give you a certificate or graduate you from the training, and your course fees cannot be refunded.
To obtain the 50-hour Restorative Yoga Teaching Certificate, you need to have attended 100% of the training, otherwise, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance only for the number of hours attended. Please plan ahead for this as requests to leave early/arrive late cannot be accommodated. If there is space, it may be possible to attend the day missed when the course is next run at Whitespace Studio. There would be an additional fee for this and is subject to availability.
Leaving the Training
It is our aim and policy to facilitate anyone who may be experiencing difficulties either with the training or in other areas of their life so they are able to complete the course. However, we understand that in some circumstances this is not possible and students have no choice other than to leave the course. In this instance, we will be unable to give you a certificate or graduate you from the training, and your course fees cannot be refunded.
About Restorative Teacher Training Qualification
In this Immersion, we will explore Restorative practice, the Nervous System & Organs and the neurobiology and physiology of trauma and prolonged stress. Also recapping on relevant aspects of Yoga Anatomy, Physiology & Philosophy, the Art of Using Props & Holding Space, Teaching Techniques and Considerations. Deborah will share her experience and the tools of the practice, exploring how to relax and rest deeply. Each day will include Restorative Practice as well as Meditation and Self-reflection.
Completion of this course will contribute 50hrs towards your Continued Professional Development (CPD Points). Please check with your awarding body (e.g. BWY, Yoga Alliance, FRYOG) about the specifics on how you record these. If you require a signature, please bring your forms along to the training.
There is an assignment but this isn’t mandatory. The Assignment is a way to demonstrate a level of competency – to show the learning has been integrated and applied to a teaching setting. If you have no intention of teaching Restorative Yoga and simply wish to attend for your personal development/practice, then you don’t have to complete this (although you’re welcome to). For teachers wishing to certify as a Restorative Yoga Teacher, the Assignment is necessary – along with the completion of all training hours – to obtain Certification.
You will have 2 months to complete the written assignment. The assignment will be explained in full detail during the training, and the exact deadline date will be given to you.
Provided you have maintained your commitment to the course, you will be given an opportunity to re-submit your assignment. There may be an additional cost for this.
