Yoga Nidra Training
Friday February 28 - Sunday March 2, 2025
with Chantal Houde and Cat Doyle
“Hands down the best yoga training weekend in the capital region. Wonderful teachers, beautiful space, good food and powerful knowledge of Yoga Nidra and other great information. Highly recommend their training on Yoga Nidra! Thanks Chantal and Cat.”
Are You Really Relaxed?
In our modern society life often moves very quickly — so quickly in fact that we don’t always have the time or space to fully release tensions.
We may sit down at the end of the day with a glass of wine or in front of the television to relax, but don’t often fully let go of chattering thoughts in our minds or find healthy ways to ease the stress in our bodies.
Yoga Nidra is a powerful practice that allows for the release of mental, emotional and physical tensions in a gentle and accessible way.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is both a practice and a state of being that allows for the deep release of mental, emotional, and physical tension. Translated literally, this ancient practice of “yogic sleep,” is easy to do, accessible to all, and profoundly relaxing. While the body settles into a deeply restful state, the mind remains awake and aware, allowing you to access deeper levels of consciousness. In this state, long-held mental and emotional patterns can be brought to light and, over time, changed with the use of intention.
Yoga Nidra has been found to be effective in the treatment of stress-related illnesses including including insomnia, anxiety, and depression, and in boosting immune system and overall health. This practice helps people to lead more integrated, genuine, and contented lives and can help to heal psychological and emotional wounds.
Join us for a cozy weekend of learning, Yoga Nidra practice, delicious lunches and healing.
What’s Included?
20 hours of training conducted by Yoga Alliance Certified Education Providers Chantal Houde and Cat Doyle.
Yoga Nidra recordings by Chantal and Cat for self-directed learning (to be completed before the training starts) and for continuing your personal practice.
3 training sessions held over one weekend: 1 online session and 2 in-person sessions at the serene Unroll the Mat Studio near Ottawa.
A printed training manual authored by Chantal.
Two nourishing, homemade lunches designed to support your nervous system and enhance the integration of your learnings.
Dedicated time for discussion and Q&A with Chantal and Cat.
Certificate of Training issued by Unroll the Mat upon completion of the program.
This introductory course will give you the understanding and resources necessary to share this transformational healing method with your community.
About Chantal Houde (she/her):
Chantal Houde is a Yoga Alliance-certified 500-hour therapeutic yoga teacher and Yoga Alliance Certified Education Provider who understands yoga as a practice in awareness of and acceptance of our selves.
She offers nourishing, trauma-informed classes that invite students to cultivate self-compassion while releasing tension and balancing the nervous system. Her systems-based teachings draw on elements of several yoga lineages learned from practice and from over 900 hours of teacher trainings around the world, as well as on principles of ecopsychology (fostering a connection to the earth), and have a strong focus on nurturing the nervous system.
Chantal has led Yoga for Sleep, Restorative and Reiki, and Yoga Nidra workshops and supported students in healing from PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and sciatica in Canada and internationally. She has taught in hospital, school, home and studio settings as well as virtually and in person. Chantal has also written for Yoga International, Elephant Journal, and other publications about how to apply tools and bring lessons learned through yoga into practice in everyday life.
Chantal has been offering Yoga Nidra practices and workshops for groups and individuals since 2015.
“Chantal leads an excellent yoga nidra class. Her cues are clear and concise, and you leave the class feeling rested and rejuvenated. Thank you for the great class!”
“I love Chantal’s soothing presence. She possesses the rare ability to create a safe and nurturing space even from a distance.”
About Cat Doyle (she/her):
Cat Doyle loves connecting with people and helping them to feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. She has fused this knowledge with her own experience and has an interest in all health, healing and wellness modalities. A yoga teacher since 2011, Cat teaches classes, hosts retreats, leads teacher training and continues her own learning.
Cat is E-RYT 500 registered and has studied with many gifted teachers including Bernie Clark (Yin), Seane Corn (Vinyasa), Maria Garre (Ayurveda), Anodea Judith (Chakra) and Abrah Arneson (Reiki and Herbal Medicine). Her background is in science — she holds a BSc. in biology and psychology. Often anatomy and functional movement are incorporated into her classes. Cat offers clear, straightforward instructions with a dose of insight and playfulness.
Cat is passionate about bringing more calm into this world and regularly leads Yoga Nidra and Yin yoga workshops. She has been teaching Yoga Nidra since 2020.
“I took Cat’s yoga nidra recording early in the new year and it was wonderful! A great way to start the year!”
What our students say:
“Thank you for the amazing course! I loved every minute and learned so much. I find that offering Yoga Nidra to others helps me “relax.” This was such a beautiful gift and I am forever grateful for having been under your tutelage.”
“The Yoga Nidra Training taught us specifically how the classes are structured, and knowing this, I look forward to improving my own personal regular practice. Having the opportunity to lead a Yoga Nidra provided great personal insight. I have very high regard for Chantal and Cat, their teaching and communication skills, and their tremendous knowledge and patience.”
“This was my first Yoga Nidra practice (definitely the first of many to come). I appreciated Chantal’s instructions and explanations. Her tone and speed of speech were perfectly tailored for this type of practice. Thank you for 45 minutes of absolute and total relaxation!”
Location & Dates
Friday February 28 6 - 9PM (online)
Saturday March 1 10AM - 5PM (in person)
Sunday March 2 10AM - 5PM (in person)
Registration
EARLY BIRD SAVINGS before December 31, 2024: $423
After December 31: $556
*BIPOC scholarships available, please inquire for details
The online sessions will be conducted using Zoom. The small group in-person sessions will be held at Cat’s Unroll the Mat studio in the Aylmer North area of Gatineau, QC. A delicious vegetarian, gluten-free lunch will be provided on both Saturday and Sunday.
This program is for you if you are:
A dedicated yoga student curious about the underlying principles of the practice of Yoga Nidra.
A passionate yoga teacher or wellness practitioner seeking to offer more variety and holistic healing to your students and enhance your toolkit.
Seeking tools for self-care to rejuvenate and replenish yourself, and receive personal nourishment.
Topics Covered
History and lineage of Yoga Nidra
Effects/benefits of practice
Differences between Yoga Nidra and meditation
Use of Sankalpa
The different stages/elements of Yoga Nidra
Science of sleep and brainwaves
Importance of language
Skillful use of props
Teaching to a group vs individuals
Teaching online vs in person
BONUS: Business for Yoga Nidra teachers with Cat!
Suggested Reading
Yoga Nidra — Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Yoga Nidra, The Art of Transformational Sleep — Kamini Desai
Yoga Nidra Meditation: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation — Julie Lusk
Do you have questions about the Yoga Nidra Training? Book in for a 20 minute call with Cat and Chantal.
We are intentionally delivering the course through different modalities so that you have the experience of practicing Yoga Nidra in different ways.
FAQ
Do I need to be a yoga teacher?
Definitely not! You will deepen your awareness and understanding of Yoga Nidra and be able to enhance your own practice.
How many CEUs?
You will receive 20 hours of continuing educations units if you are a yoga teacher registered with Yoga Alliance. We are both registered as Continuing Education Providers.
How much Nidra experience do I need?
You would benefit from having practiced Yoga Nidra a few times in the past six months.
I’m a busy person. How much out of class time is required?
There will be a few hours work on your own - mostly practicing Yoga Nidra. You will be given resources to explore Yoga Nidra and it’s effects on the body.
Where is the training being held?
We are intentionally delivering the course through different modalities so that you have the experience of practicing Yoga Nidra in different ways. You will receive some pre-recorded material to watch and practice with before the beginning of the course. Friday February 28 is being held online through Zoom. Saturday March 1 and Sunday March 2 will be in person at Cat’s studio in the Lucerne Nord area of Gatineau, Quebec. You will receive the address after you register.
What equipment do I need to bring to the training?
All props, including high quality mats, bolsters, blankets, straps, and blocks are provided.
What if I have an injury?
Yoga Nidra is very accessible to everyone no matter their level of physical ability, which is part of why it's such a powerful practice. It is practiced in a reclined position with as much support as needed which makes it easy to do when you're injured and can even support your physical healing process.
How many breaks will we get?
The Friday night, we’ll have a 15 minute break. For both Saturday and Sunday, there will be an hour lunch break (lunch is provided) and a couple of short breaks.
