RetreatExplorerYoga Nidra & Meditation Teacher Training
Yoga nidra — often translated as "yogic sleep" — is a guided meditation practice done lying down, moving attention systematically through the body and breath to reach a state between waking and sleeping associated with deep rest and nervous-system recovery. A dedicated teacher training covers both the technique itself and the broader skill of guiding meditation more generally.
A strong program covers the traditional stages of a yoga nidra script (settling, intention/sankalpa, body scan, breath awareness, visualisation and closing), the physiology of deep rest and the parasympathetic nervous system, and — because voice and pacing carry almost the entire experience in a lying-down guided practice — real attention to vocal delivery, pacing and scripting your own sessions rather than only reading someone else's.
Many programs pair yoga nidra with broader meditation-teaching skills (mindfulness, breath-based and visualisation techniques), since the two are natural companions for teachers building a restorative, stress-recovery focused offering.
What you'll learn
- The traditional stages of a yoga nidra script
- Physiology of deep rest and the parasympathetic nervous system
- Voice, pacing and vocal delivery for guided practice
- Writing and adapting your own yoga nidra scripts
- Broader meditation-teaching technique: mindfulness, breath and visualisation methods
- Working with trauma-sensitive language and student autonomy
- Supervised practice sessions with feedback
Who this is for
For yoga teachers and wellness practitioners who want to specialise in rest, recovery and meditation — an increasingly requested offering as students look for stress-relief practices alongside more physically active classes.
Format & duration
Typically 40–100 hours over one intensive week or several weekends. No prior yoga teaching certification is strictly required by every school, though it's common among enrollees.
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Frequently asked questions
What is yoga nidra?
A guided meditation practice done lying down that systematically moves attention through the body and breath to induce a state of deep, conscious rest — distinct from ordinary sleep or a typical seated meditation.
Do I need to be a certified yoga teacher to train in yoga nidra?
Not always — many programs welcome meditation teachers, therapists and wellness practitioners without a yoga-teaching background, though check the specific school's prerequisites.
How is yoga nidra different from general meditation training?
Yoga nidra follows a specific structured script and body-scan format done lying down; general meditation training covers a broader range of seated techniques (mindfulness, breath-focus, visualisation). Many programs teach both together.
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