Restorative Level 1 - COYAMA Learn

About Course

Restorative yoga is one of the most powerful and underused tools in wellness facilitation. In a world that rarely stops, the ability to create genuine, supported rest for another person is a rare and valuable skill — and this is where you learn it.

Restorative Level 1 is the foundation of the COYAMA Academy RSM Pathway. Over fifteen hours of self-paced online learning, you will develop a thorough understanding of what restorative yoga is, how it works, and how to begin facilitating it safely and confidently for others.

No prior yoga teaching experience is required. This course is designed for yoga teachers looking to deepen their offering, and equally for therapists, coaches, bodyworkers, spa professionals, and wellness practitioners who want to add facilitated rest to their practice.

On completion you will receive the COYAMA Academy Restorative Level 1 Facilitator Certificate — a standalone credential and your first step into the RSM Pathway.

What restorative yoga is, where it comes from, and how it differs from yin yoga and general relaxation
How the autonomic nervous system works and why it is central to everything you do as a facilitator
The key principles of polyvagal theory explained in plain, practical language
What is physically and neurologically happening in the body during deep rest
How to use every essential prop — bolsters, blankets, blocks, straps, and eye pillows
The full core restorative pose library and how to set up each pose safely
How to adapt poses for different bodies, abilities, injuries, and conditions
How to use language, tone, silence, and pacing to create a deeply restful experience
How to design and deliver a complete 60-minute and 90-minute restorative session
The foundational principles of trauma-informed facilitation
How to create an environment — lighting, temperature, sound — that supports genuine rest
How to manage a group in a rest space with confidence and presence

Course Content

Module 1 — Foundations of Rest (3 hours)
Build the conceptual and philosophical foundation of restorative yoga before you ever touch a prop.

Lesson 1.0 — Overview
Lesson 1.1 — What is restorative yoga and why it matters now
Lesson 1.2 — The history and lineage
Lesson 1.3 — The difference between restorative, yin, and relaxation
Lesson 1.4 — The facilitator’s role and mindset
Lesson 1.5 — Trauma-informed principles introduction
Lesson 1.6 — Summary

Module 2 — The Science of Rest (3 hours)
Understand what is happening in the body and nervous system during deep rest, so you can explain it, trust it, and facilitate it with confidence.

Module 3 — Props and Postures (4 hours)
Get hands-on with the tools of restorative practice, every prop, every pose, every set-up option you need to begin working with others.

Module 4 — Facilitation Skills (3 hours)
Develop the specific language, presence, and practical skills that separate a good restorative session from an exceptional one.

Module 5 — Building and Delivering Sessions (2 hours)
Put everything together, design your first real sessions, prepare for delivery, and complete your assessment for certification.

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About Course

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Module 1 — Foundations of Rest (3 hours) Build the conceptual and philosophical foundation of restorative yoga before you ever touch a prop.

Lesson 1.0 — Overview

Lesson 1.1 — What is restorative yoga and why it matters now

Lesson 1.2 — The history and lineage

Lesson 1.3 — The difference between restorative, yin, and relaxation

Lesson 1.4 — The facilitator’s role and mindset

Lesson 1.5 — Trauma-informed principles introduction

Lesson 1.6 — Summary

Module 2 — The Science of Rest (3 hours) Understand what is happening in the body and nervous system during deep rest, so you can explain it, trust it, and facilitate it with confidence.

Lesson 2.0 — Overview

Lesson 2.1 — The autonomic nervous system explained simp

Lesson 2.2 — Polyvagal theory for facilitators

Lesson 2.3 — What happens in the body during deep rest

Lesson 2.4 — Fascia, connective tissue, and passive holds

Lesson 2.5 — The stress response and how restorative interrupts it

Lesson 2.6 — Summary

Module 3 — Props and Postures (4 hours) Get hands-on with the tools of restorative practice, every prop, every pose, every set-up option you need to begin working with others.

Lesson 3.0 — Overview

Lesson 3.1 — Essential props and how to use them

Lesson 3.2 — The core restorative poses

Lesson 3.3 — Setting up poses safely

Lesson 3.4 — Working with different bodies and abilities

Lesson 3.5 — Temperature, lighting, and environment

Lesson 3.6 — Summary

Module 4 — Facilitation Skills (3 hours) Develop the specific language, presence, and practical skills that separate a good restorative session from an exceptional one.

Lesson 4.0 — Overview

Lesson 4.1 — Language and tone for deep rest

Lesson 4.2 — Cueing into and out of poses

Lesson 4.3 — Holding silence, the art of presence

Lesson 4.4 — Timing and pacing a session

Lesson 4.5 — Managing a group in a rest space

Lesson 4.6 — Summary

Module 5 — Building and Delivering Sessions (2 hours) Put everything together, design your first real sessions, prepare for delivery, and complete your assessment for certification.

Lesson 5.0 — Overview

Lesson 5.1 — Designing a 60-minute restorative session

Lesson 5.2 — Designing a 90-minute restorative session

Lesson 5.3 — Your first session, practical checklist

Lesson 5.4 — Assessment and certificate submission

Lesson 5.6 — Summary