Yoga Nidra ,

The Art and Science of Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is often introduced as “yogic sleep” or guided relaxation—but at its heart, it is a profound practice of awareness that touches every layer of being. Rooted in ancient wisdom and supported by modern science, Yoga Nidra offers pathways to deep rest, emotional balance, and awakening to one’s essential nature.

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Stephanie Lopez

Experience the Depth of Yoga Nidra

Immerse yourself in Yoga Nidra’s transformative practices, and learn how to weave its principles into your yoga and life.

15+ guided practices
Learning centered on Yoga Nidra including perspectives from philosophy, history, core concepts, the kosha model, neuroscience, the nervous system, sleep cycles, & more.
Practical tools for integration; based on the body, breath, and non-traditional interventions
Lifetime access
Regular live office hours with Stephanie (next office hours coming in December)
Certificate of Completion
15 CE Credits with Yoga Alliance

A Practice for Transformation

Yoga Nidra offers a pathway to deep rest, emotional regulation, and recognition of one’s essential nature.

This course explores the foundational teachings that shape the many styles of Yoga Nidra today, with a focus on iRest Yoga Nidra, a contemporary evidence-based adaptation of the traditional practice that honors its ancient roots while engaging with the realities of modern life. Developed by psychologist Richard Miller, the iRest framework provides a structured yet accessible method for working with challenging emotions, beliefs, and physical experiences—including pain—while fostering a deeper relationship with oneself and the world.

iRest is simple to learn and easy to practice. It can be practiced by anyone, regardless of physical ability or experience with meditation. It has been shown to be effective in scientific trials for conditions including chronic pain, sleep problems, depression and anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Each time you practice iRest you are:

Activating the vagus nerve and increasing vagal tone, which signals to your body and mind that you are safe and can relax.
Regulating brain activity. Stress, difficult decisions, and interpersonal conflict can activate the ‘reptilian brain’ (flight or fight mode). In this mode, it can be very difficult to focus, make rational decisions, or interact with others without being defensive or shutting down.
Downregulating. In practicing iRest, the nervous system begins to downregulate and the prefrontal cortex (the part of your brain responsible for reasoning, problem-solving, creativity, and perseverance), will come back online.
Increasing resilience and a sense of groundedness. iRest offers a practical skill set for navigating times of chaos.

Led by Stephanie Lopez, President and Senior iRest Trainer for the iRest Institute and Gestalt psychotherapist, this course offers yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners an opportunity to understand Yoga Nidra in both theory and experience. Students will explore the practice’s philosophical foundations, psychological applications, and embodied effects.

Rather than offering scripts for leading full Yoga Nidra sessions, this course emphasizes experiential understanding and integration. Students will learn to incorporate the principles and insights of Yoga Nidra into their personal practice and into the yoga they already teach, enriching both with greater depth, presence, and authenticity.

Your Practice & Teaching Companion — $89 Value (Shipped/Delivered Free)

In this course, Stephanie Lopez has designed each module to help you not only understand the teachings but also engage with them through guided practices, journaling prompts, and homework assignments. These reflections are woven throughout the course, helping you come into an intimate relationship with how the practice affects you—in body, mind, and awareness.

To support this process, we’ve created the Yogaversity Practice & Teaching Journal, which will be shipped directly to your home. This journal is designed to be both a study companion and a long-term teaching reference.

You’ll find core reference material—key terms, sutras, and frameworks to support your understanding of yoga as you learn and as you teach. The remaining pages are thoughtfully divided:

The first half offers space to log your personal practices, note insights, and track your growth over time.
The second half provides dedicated space to plan and refine your classes, organize teaching themes, and record inspiration—all in one place.

✨ Included free with your course — a $89 value, with delivery included.

What You’ll Gain in This Course

Uncover the history of yoga nidra, including traditional and contemporary schools, and an introduction to teachings from source texts.
Explore iRest’s unique approach to the traditional practice of yoga nidra, including a dive into the kosha model, core principles, and a variety of techniques to apply to your practice and teaching.
Immerse yourself in more than 15 transformational guided practices. Each practice is designed to support you in your day-to-day life and meet you where you are.
Explore foundational yogic concepts that inform this practice, including the Panchamaya Kosha model, Sankalpa, Inner Resource, and Sahaj.
Discover the neuroscience of Yoga Nidra & understand how the nervous system can adapt in response to this practice.
Understand the stages of sleep and practice along with two yoga nidras: one 20-minute practice to help you fall asleep, the other, an 8-minute Nourishing Nap.
Expand your teaching by understanding how supporting practices and principles (such as breathing techniques, chanting, and more) can be integrated into the classes you already teach.

Why Learn with Stephanie Lopez?

Stephanie is a Senior iRest® Trainer, Supervisor, and Retreat Leader who has guided thousands of students and teachers worldwide. With a background that bridges modern psychology, neuroscience, and the nondual wisdom traditions, she offers a rare blend of clarity, warmth, and depth.

Her teaching makes profound principles both accessible and practical—inviting you to experience Yoga Nidra not as a concept, but as a living reality.

This Course Is Perfect For:

Yoga Teachers who want to understand what Yoga Nidra truly is and weave its principles into their classes.
Dedicated Practitioners who want to experience Yoga Nidra’s transformational effects firsthand.
Teachers-in-Training looking to enrich their studies with a lineage-rooted, experiential understanding of the practice.