iRest Trainings (Level I - Level III)

Level I: Basic iRest® Training

The Level I training is designed to provide you with the basic principles, history, theory, practice and delivery of iRest. This will allow you to incorporate the simple 10-step iRest protocol into your personal life, professional teaching or clinical practice. The protocol has been designed for use in various settings that include a personal practice, yoga environments, physical therapy, massage therapy, social work, clinical and medical settings, alternative or integrative medical practices as well as in-job training and job resiliency programs. Approximately 32-36 CE hours available for YA, PSY, MFT, LCSW, RN.

What is included:

• iRest Level I training introduces you to the historical context and path of meditation in which iRest is embedded.
• Introduces and provides you with an:
• Understanding of Eastern and Western psycho-spiritual perspectives that form the path of meditation and iRest.
• Understanding of the evidence-based research showing the efficacy of iRest and its use with different psycho-physical issues and populations.
• Understanding of iRest within the context of meditation.
• Understanding of the teacher-student relationship, teaching issues and ethical considerations.
• Teaches you the Ten Steps of iRest.
• Introduces and teaches you to use iRest for your personal practice.
• Teaches you how to teach iRest to groups and individuals in order to provide simple yet highly effective delivery of iRest in group and individual settings.
• Provides you the opportunity to participate in group lectures and peer discussion groups.
• Provides you the opportunity to receive and participate in multiple iRest experiential group and one-on-one practice sessions.

Level I iRest Graduates are eligible to:

• Use the designation "Level I iRest Teacher" in advertising and promotional materials, and when delivering iRest in public and professional settings.
• Be listed on the IRI website as a Level I Graduate.
• Be recommended by IRI to people seeking iRest teachers in their local area.
• Audit Level I trainings at reduced rates.
• Utilize private mentoring from IRI Certified Mentors (additional fees apply).
• New! Access the valuable "iRest Teacher's Resource Webpage" to download iRest teaching materials and professionally designed promotional brochures, flyers, and more!
• New! Join the iRest "Teacher's Community Network" (TCN) (additional fees apply).

You will learn iRest Yoga Nidra principles in conjunction with in-depth east-west developmental and psycho/physical practices, that include emotional and cognitive work, and meditative self-inquiry. The program includes interactive dialogue, mind/body deep rest and relaxation, and one-on-one and group deliveries of iRest that emphasize deep, heartfelt listening and welcoming, which in turn produces profound healing for yourself and those you work with.

REQUIRED reading and listening: Richard Miller, Yoga Nidra: A Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing (book with CD)

Recommended reading and listening: Integrative Restoration—iRest: The Principles and Practice of Yoga Nidra (6-CD set); iRest at Ease with Richard Miller (audio CD) or iRest at Ease with Kelly Boys (audio CD); and Resting in Stillness (audio CD).

Read Psychological Healing and Yoga's blog entry about a recent Level I training

Read an article by iRest teacher Samantha Kinkaid about Level I and II iRest Yoga Nidra trainings here

Read an article by iRest teacher Gemma Adams about Level III iRest Yoga Nidra certification here

To see a full list of our current trainings and retreats, click here.

Level II: Advanced iRest Training

iRest Level II training is designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of the principles underlying the theory, practice and delivery of iRest Yoga Nidra so that you can hone your delivery of iRest to groups and individuals in public and professional settings.

Level II Learning Objectives

• Receive advanced training in teaching iRest to groups and individuals.
• Participate in advanced group lectures and peer discussion groups.
• Understand the teacher-student relationship, teaching issues and ethical considerations.
• Receive advanced iRest experiential group and one-on-one practice sessions.
• Enhance your understanding of the historical context and the path of meditation in which iRest is embedded.
• Learn Eastern and Western psycho-spiritual views that inform iRest and the path of meditation.
• Learn about evidence-based research showing the efficacy of iRest with different populations.
• Deepen your personal practice of iRest.


Upon completion of the Level II Training you are eligible to:


• Describe yourself as having advanced training in iRest yoga nidra in advertising and promotional materials, and when delivering iRest in public and professional settings.
• Be listed on the IRI website as having completed Level II.
• Be recommended by IRI to people seeking iRest teachers in their local area.
• Work as an assistant on an iRest research project.
• Audit Level II trainings at reduced rates.
• Assist at Introductory and Level I and Level II trainings and retreats.
• Assist at iRest research projects.
• New! Access the valuable "iRest Teacher's Resource Webpage" to download iRest teaching materials and professionally designed promotional brochures, flyers, and more!
• New! Join the iRest "Teacher's Community Network" (TCN) (additional fees apply).

"Richard has created a program that delivers the profound experience of our fundamental wholeness to not only spiritual seekers, but other people as well such as vets, homeless, and children. I highly recommend this training for anyone interested in learning how to help people heal with an easily accessible method to access profound truth of their true nature."

-Lama Palden Drolma, Founder of the Sukhasiddhi Foundation

Teaching Yoga: Exploring the Teacher-Student Relationship

by Donna Farhi — $11.53

Recommended reading for the IRI iRest Yoga Nidra Level II Training
Drawing on decades of experience in training Yoga teacher, Donna Farhi offers the first book to set professional standards for yoga teachers. Teaching Yoga explores with depth and compassion a variety of topics both practical and philosophical, including how to create healthy boundaries; the student-teacher relationship (including whether a sexual relationship is acceptable); how to create physical and emotional safety for the student; what is a reasonable class size; how much a class should cost; and how to conduct the business of teaching while upholding the integrity of Yoga as a philosophy, a science, and an art.

A bonus CD features the author speaking about yoga ethics at a 2002 conference.
Buy from Amazon.com

The Integrative Restoration Institute (IRI) has created a comprehensive process by which iRest Level II graduates are eligible to become a Certified iRest Teacher.

Successful completion of the Certification Program indicates that the student possesses a basic understanding of the fundamental principles and teachings that underlie iRest, and is certified by IRI as competent to deliver iRest in group and individual settings. iRest Students are eligible to apply to the Certification Program following completion of the Level II Training. Students must complete the entire Level I and Level II trainings and Certification Program in order to be eligible for iRest Teacher Certification. The cost is $1500 if you register within two weeks of completing the Level II training, and $1800 regular pricing (this cost is paid in two installments). In addition, you are required to attend two IRI retreats. Certification is expected to be completed within two years of enrollment; however, some students finish within a year. For links to register or make a payment, please login to the IRI Website and then visit the Teacher Resources Webpage (select "Opportunities for Level II Graduates and Level III Certification Links").