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Ana Murphy

In today’s fast-paced world, restful sleep is often one of the first things sacrificed, leaving us feeling drained, stressed, and unbalanced.

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In today’s fast-paced world, restful sleep is often one of the first things sacrificed, leaving us feeling drained, stressed, and unbalanced.

In this course, you will unlock the power of yoga, meditation, and breathwork to experience the deep, restful sleep you’ve been seeking. Designed to guide you through a holistic approach, it incorporates simple yet effective techniques to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and prepare your body and mind for restful and better sleep. You'll learn to reconnect with your body, calm your mind, and establish a healthy sleep routine through the ancient practices of yoga—all with the goal of insomnia relief.

This course includes a variety of yoga practices, offering options for both mat-based postures and chair-based postures. Whether you prefer traditional floor poses or need the support of a chair, this course is designed to accommodate all levels and abilities, ensuring accessibility and comfort for everyone

What You’ll Learn:

  • Yoga Practices for Better Sleep (Unwind and Restore): Gentle yoga practices designed to relax your body, release tension, and prepare you for a restful night’s sleep.  (15-, 20-, and 30- minute practices)

  • Calming Yoga Posture for better sleep: Mat-based and chair-based.

  • Breathwork for Sleep: Breathing exercises designed to calm the nervous system, lower heart rate, and shift your body into a restful state.

  • Meditation Techniques: Mindfulness and guided meditation practices that help quiet the mind and ease racing thoughts, making it easier to fall asleep.

  • Sleep Hygiene Tips: Practical advice on how to create an ideal sleep environment and habits that support a healthy sleep cycle and and promote insomnia relief.

Course Features:

  • Step-by-step video lessons (3 to 10 minute) that you can practice at your own pace.

  • Guided meditation and breathwork sessions designed specifically for sleep

  • Relaxing  Mat-based and Chair-based yoga postures that can be done before bed

  • Captions available in English and Spanish.

Who This Course is For:

  • Anyone struggling with insomnia or poor sleep quality

  • Individuals who want to incorporate mindfulness and relaxation into their evening routine

  • Yoga, meditation, and breathwork enthusiasts looking to deepen their practice

  • Those seeking natural solutions to improve sleep without relying on medication

  • This course is also for those who want to learn how to help others improve their sleep.

  • If you're a yoga instructor, this online Continuing Education course is certified by Yoga Alliance and counts toward your Yoga Alliance CE credits.

Benefits of the Course:

  • Improved sleep quality and duration

  • Increased relaxation and reduced stress levels

  • Better mental clarity and focus during the day

  • A deeper sense of calm and emotional balance

  • Insomnia Relief

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How yoga, meditation, and breathwork can improve sleep quality by calming the nervous system: understanding and practicing the mind-body connection.
  • To create a pre-sleep yoga practice: gentle, restorative poses to release physical and mental tension, improve circulation, and prepare your body for sleep.
  • Breathwork techniques for relaxation: guided breathing exercises, such as box breathing and belly breathing, to reduce stress and anxiety.
  • Mindfulness and meditation for better sleep: simple meditation techniques to calm the mind and prepare for restful sleep.
  • Calming yoga posture for better sleep: mat-based and chair-based.
  • All with the goal of learning relaxation techniques that promote better sleep and insomnia relief.

Syllabus

Introduction to Yoga, Meditation, and Breathwork for Better Sleep
Welcome Message to Yoga for Better Sleep
What Will You Learn
If You Are Teaching Others
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Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Sleep Well: Yoga, Meditation, and Breathwork for Deep Sleep. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Sleep Well: Yoga, Meditation, and Breathwork for Deep Sleep will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Sleep Health Coach
A Sleep Health Coach empowers clients to identify and overcome obstacles to restful sleep, guiding them toward healthier sleep patterns and overall well-being. This specialized role aligns perfectly with the comprehensive content of this course, which is designed to help you learn how to help others improve their sleep. As a Sleep Health Coach, the knowledge gained from specific yoga practices, breathwork for calming the nervous system, and meditation for quieting the mind will be invaluable. Crucially, the course also covers sleep hygiene tips, providing practical advice on creating an ideal sleep environment and establishing habits that support a healthy sleep cycle and promote insomnia relief for your clients.
Yoga Instructor
A Yoga Instructor guides individuals and groups through physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to improve physical and mental well-being. This course provides a robust foundation for becoming a Yoga Instructor, particularly for those interested in therapeutic applications. You will learn gentle, restorative mat-based and chair-based yoga practices, including specific poses like Child’s Pose and Legs-Up-the-Wall, designed to release tension and prepare the body for rest. Furthermore, the course's certification by Yoga Alliance for Continuing Education credits makes it exceptionally relevant. It specifically addresses how to help others improve their sleep, directly equipping you with specialized sequences and techniques for creating a pre-sleep yoga practice, an invaluable skill for instructing clients seeking relaxation and insomnia relief.
Restorative Yoga Specialist
A Restorative Yoga Specialist focuses on teaching practices that use props and gentle, prolonged holds to promote deep relaxation, release tension, and facilitate recovery from stress or illness. This course is exceptionally well-suited for someone aspiring to be a Restorative Yoga Specialist, as it is centered around gentle yoga practices designed to relax the body, release tension, and prepare for restful sleep. Specific postures like Reclining Bound Angle Pose and Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose are explicitly taught, emphasizing their restorative qualities. The course also integrates breathwork and meditation into complete sequences to unwind and restore, equipping you with the specialized knowledge to guide clients in profoundly relaxing and therapeutic sessions.
Chair Yoga Teacher
A Chair Yoga Teacher instructs individuals or groups in yoga practices modified to be performed while seated, making yoga accessible to those with mobility limitations, injuries, or who prefer a seated practice. This course is an ideal pathway to becoming a skilled Chair Yoga Teacher, as it explicitly offers options for chair-based postures and includes complete guided chair yoga practices for better sleep. You will learn a variety of calming chair yoga postures such as Seated Spinal Circles, Seated Forward Fold, and Cat and Cow, all designed to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. This specialized training ensures you can accommodate all levels and abilities, making these beneficial practices accessible and comfortable for a wider range of clients.
Meditation Teacher
A Meditation Teacher leads individuals or groups in practices designed to cultivate mindfulness, calm the mind, and foster inner peace. As a Meditation Teacher, you help clients manage thoughts and sensations, often for specific goals like improved focus or stress reduction. This course is an excellent resource, focusing on techniques to quiet the mind and ease racing thoughts, making it easier to fall asleep. You will learn and practice various methods, including Body Scan Meditation, Mantra or Affirmation Repetition Meditation, and Visualization Meditation. This direct instruction in guided meditation sessions, specifically tailored for sleep, provides practical tools and sequences for prospective teachers to guide others toward restful states and enhanced mental clarity.
Breathwork Facilitator
A Breathwork Facilitator guides individuals through specific breathing exercises to influence physiological and psychological states, often aiming for relaxation, stress reduction, or emotional release. For an aspiring Breathwork Facilitator, this course delves deeply into techniques designed to calm the nervous system, lower heart rate, and shift the body into a restful state. You will gain proficiency in practices such as Box Breathing, Ujjayi Breath, Belly Breathing, and Alternate Nostril Breathing. The course structure, with guided breathwork sessions specifically designed for sleep and presented in step-by-step video lessons, offers practical experience and a clear framework for teaching these powerful techniques to clients seeking natural solutions for stress management and improved sleep quality.
Stress Reduction Coach
A Stress Reduction Coach works with clients to identify sources of stress, develop coping mechanisms, and implement strategies to mitigate its impact on their lives and health. Given that today’s fast-paced world often leads to stress, this course offers direct and practical tools for an aspiring Stress Reduction Coach. It emphasizes incorporating simple yet effective techniques to promote relaxation and reduce stress, which are foundational to improving overall well-being. You will learn gentle yoga practices, specific breathwork exercises designed to calm the nervous system, and mindfulness and guided meditation techniques—all crucial for helping clients manage anxiety and achieve a deeper sense of calm, particularly as a pathway to better sleep.
Mindfulness Educator
A Mindfulness Educator teaches individuals and groups how to cultivate awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, and improve mental clarity through focused attention and non-judgmental observation. This course directly contributes to the skillset required for a Mindfulness Educator, especially in the context of improving sleep. It provides explicit instruction in mindfulness and guided meditation practices that help quiet the mind and ease racing thoughts. By integrating learned practices into daily lives for ongoing relaxation and mental clarity, the course offers practical methods for you to teach others how to focus on the present moment and manage intrusive thoughts, fostering a deeper sense of calm and emotional balance in their lives.
Relaxation Techniques Instructor
A Relaxation Techniques Instructor teaches clients various methods to alleviate tension, manage stress, and promote mental and physical calm. This role perfectly aligns with the core principles of this course, which is designed to guide learners through a holistic approach incorporating simple yet effective techniques to promote relaxation. As a Relaxation Techniques Instructor, you will benefit immensely from the practical applications of gentle yoga practices, specific breathwork exercises like Box Breathing and Belly Breathing, and mindfulness and guided meditation sessions. The course's explicit goal of learning relaxation techniques that promote better sleep and insomnia relief directly equips you with a diverse toolkit to help individuals achieve profound states of calm.
Integrative Health Coach
An Integrative Health Coach partners with clients to achieve their health and wellness goals by integrating conventional and complementary approaches, focusing on personalized strategies. This course significantly aids an Integrative Health Coach in addressing crucial aspects of client well-being. It provides practical applications of yoga, meditation, and breathwork to improve sleep quality and reduce stress, offering natural solutions without relying on medication. The ability to guide clients through gentle yoga sequences, calming breathing exercises, and mindfulness techniques is an invaluable skill for promoting relaxation and establishing healthy sleep routines. This approach aligns with an integrative philosophy, empowering clients to harness their body's innate capacity for rest and recovery.
Corporate Wellness Instructor
A Corporate Wellness Instructor designs and delivers programs within organizations to promote employee health, reduce stress, and enhance productivity and morale. This course provides practical skills for a Corporate Wellness Instructor looking to offer accessible techniques for stress reduction and improved sleep, which are common challenges in the workplace. You will acquire skills in gentle yoga practices, breathwork for calming the nervous system, and meditation techniques that help quiet the mind. The inclusion of chair-based yoga postures is particularly relevant for office environments, enabling you to introduce convenient and effective relaxation methods that can be easily integrated into a busy workday, ultimately contributing to better employee well-being and focus.
Holistic Wellness Advisor
A Holistic Wellness Advisor guides clients in integrating various aspects of their lives—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual—to achieve overall health and balance. This course directly supports a Holistic Wellness Advisor seeking to incorporate natural, non-pharmacological approaches to one of the most fundamental pillars of wellness: sleep. It provides a comprehensive approach to improving sleep quality by fostering relaxation, reducing stress, and establishing a healthy routine through ancient practices. The emphasis on the mind-body connection, gentle movement, breathwork, and meditation helps build a foundation for advising clients on lifestyle changes that lead to improved sleep quality, increased relaxation, and a deeper sense of calm and emotional balance.
Geriatric Movement and Relaxation Guide
A Geriatric Movement and Relaxation Guide specializes in helping older adults maintain physical mobility, reduce stress, and improve sleep through adapted exercises and calming techniques. This course is particularly well-suited for a Geriatric Movement and Relaxation Guide due to its emphasis on accessibility and gentle practices. It offers both mat-based and chair-based yoga postures, ensuring that individuals with varying mobility levels can participate comfortably and safely. Learning practices like Seated Spinal Circles and Gentle Forward Folds, combined with breathwork and meditation, provides effective tools for improving circulation, releasing tension, and preparing the body and mind for restful sleep, directly addressing common needs of older adults.
Community Wellness Program Coordinator
A Community Wellness Program Coordinator develops, implements, and oversees health and wellness initiatives for diverse populations within a community setting. This course equips a Community Wellness Program Coordinator with the knowledge to offer accessible and effective solutions for common community health issues like stress and poor sleep. You will gain practical knowledge in gentle yoga practices, breathwork, and meditation techniques, which are easily adaptable for community workshops or ongoing programs. The course's focus on foundational relaxation techniques and sleep hygiene tips can form the basis of educational sessions, empowering community members to adopt healthy habits that promote restful sleep and overall improved quality of life.
Health Education Specialist
A Health Education Specialist designs, implements, and evaluates strategies to promote health and prevent disease within various populations, often empowering individuals to make informed health decisions. This course provides a strong foundation for a Health Education Specialist focusing on lifestyle interventions for well-being. It offers practical insights into the benefits of yoga, meditation, and breathwork for improving sleep quality and reducing stress. The inclusion of sleep hygiene tips offers concrete advice on creating an ideal sleep environment and habits that support a healthy sleep cycle. This knowledge enables you to educate individuals and groups on natural, holistic approaches to improve their sleep, stress management, and overall health outcomes.

Reading list

We've selected 22 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Sleep Well: Yoga, Meditation, and Breathwork for Deep Sleep.
Comprehensive guide that mirrors the course's focus on using specific yoga sequences to improve sleep quality. It provides detailed instructions for over 75 postures, including many mentioned in the syllabus like Child’s Pose and Legs-Up-the-Wall. It serves as an excellent textbook for those looking to deepen their understanding of how yoga affects the circadian rhythm.
James Nestor explores the transformative power of breathing, which core pillar of this course's curriculum. The book provides the scientific background for why techniques like alternate nostril breathing and diaphragmatic breathing are effective for calming the nervous system. It is highly recommended as additional reading to understand the 'why' behind the course's breathwork modules.
Dr. Jade Wu provides a clinical yet accessible perspective on insomnia that aligns with the course's goal of finding natural sleep solutions. The book offers evidence-based sleep hygiene tips and behavioral strategies that complement the course's practical yoga sessions. It is particularly valuable for learners who want to understand the psychological aspects of sleep deprivation.
Written by a pioneer in restorative yoga, this book is widely used as a textbook in yoga teacher training. It provides the foundational knowledge for the restorative sequences taught in the course. While slightly older, its authority in the field makes it an indispensable reference for deep relaxation.
This recent publication delves into the connection between the vagus nerve, breath, and relaxation. It provides advanced depth to the course's breathwork module, explaining how physical tension release facilitates better sleep. It is an excellent reference for yoga instructors taking the course for continuing education credits.
Provides an in-depth look at the science and philosophy of Yoga Nidra, which natural extension of the course's meditation module. It explains how to reach the state between wakefulness and sleep to release deep-seated stress. It adds significant intellectual depth to the course's practical exercises.
This is the most reputable and popular book on sleep science globally. It provides the essential scientific foundation for why every technique in the course—from breathwork to yoga—is vital for health. It is highly recommended as background knowledge for any learner serious about improving their sleep quality.
Serves as a visual and practical guide to restorative yoga, focusing on the 'unwind and restore' aspect of the course. It includes many mat-based postures found in Module 1, such as Sphinx and Reclining Bound Angle pose. It perfect supplement for students who prefer a printed reference for their home practice.
Given that the course includes a dedicated module on chair-based yoga, this book is an essential companion for accessibility. It provides additional variations of seated stretches and rolls that can be done by those with limited mobility. It useful tool for industry professionals who need to adapt sleep-focused yoga for diverse populations.
Offers a structured program that matches the step-by-step nature of the course's video lessons. It emphasizes mindfulness and meditation techniques specifically designed to quiet intrusive thoughts before bed. It is helpful for providing the prerequisite mental framework needed for successful meditation practice.
This recently published guide offers a modern look at restorative poses, including many chair-based options. It aligns with the course's focus on releasing physical tension to prepare for sleep. It useful reference tool for students who want to build their own custom sequences based on the course's teachings.
Dr. Ramlakhan's routines mirror the 15- and 20-minute yoga sequences offered in the course. The book focuses on the mind-body connection and nervous system regulation to overcome insomnia. It highly practical guide that fits the 'unwind and restore' theme perfectly.
McKeown leading authority on functional breathing, and this book provides specific exercises to combat sleep apnea and snoring. It adds significant breadth to the course's breathwork section by focusing on nasal breathing benefits. This is more valuable as a technical reference than as light reading.
Focuses on the cognitive side of insomnia, complementing the course's mindfulness and visualization techniques. It helps learners manage the 'racing thoughts' mentioned in the course description. It practical, workbook-style resource that is very accessible for beginners.
Dr. Winter, a neurologist and sleep specialist, provides a comprehensive overview of sleep hygiene and habits. expands on the 'Suggested Habits to Support Better Sleep' section of the course syllabus. It popular and reputable resource for anyone looking to fix their sleep through lifestyle changes.
Bostock, known as 'The Breath Guy,' offers a modern take on pranayama that fits the course's breathwork module well. The book includes box breathing and belly breathing exercises that are central to the course syllabus. It visually engaging and easy-to-follow reference for daily practice.
While less of a 'how-to' manual, this popular book provides a powerful cultural and psychological motivation for the course. It helps learners understand why prioritizing sleep is difficult in a 'fast-paced world,' as the course description notes. It is excellent supplementary reading to shift one's mindset toward valuing rest.
Bondy leading voice in yoga accessibility, making this book a great companion for the course's inclusive approach. It provides modifications for various postures, which is helpful for those using the chair-based sequences. It adds breadth to the course by showing how any body can benefit from sleep-focused yoga.
Provides a wide array of sleep hygiene tips and natural remedies that supplement the course's final modules. It is an excellent quick-reference guide for creating a bedtime ritual. It is published recently and reflects current trends in sleep science and holistic health.
Includes a variety of gentle yoga and chair yoga routines that align perfectly with the course's accessible approach. It is particularly useful for older adults or those with physical limitations looking to improve sleep. It reinforces the course's message that yoga is for all levels and abilities.
Is specifically focused on the 'Suggested Bedtime Ritual' module of the course. It offers a hundred different ideas for calming the mind and body before sleep, including many mentioned in the course. It light, easy-to-digest reference that supports the course's practical goals.
Provides a straightforward approach to meditation that fits the course's 'simple yet effective' philosophy. It is particularly useful for the meditation module, helping to manage intrusive thoughts and racing minds. It is frequently used by professionals to introduce mindfulness to beginners.

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