Sophie Richardson is a Certified Restorative Yoga Teacher trained directly by Judith Hanson Lasater and holds additional certification in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga through the Trauma Center at JRI. With 12 years of teaching experience, she specialises in nervous system recovery, stress resilience, and supporting clients through burnout and exhaustion. She currently leads restorative yoga teacher trainings and works privately with individuals navigating chronic stress and fatigue.
Sophie Richardson initially trained as a clinical psychologist at the University of Manchester before redirecting her career toward somatic approaches to healing, completing her foundational yoga training followed by advanced restorative certification directly with Judith Hanson Lasater, the pioneer of therapeutic restorative yoga. She has additional qualifications in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga from the Trauma Center at JRI and has studied Polyvagal Theory applications with Deb Dana. Sophie has worked within mental health settings, corporate wellness programmes, and dedicated yoga therapy environments, gaining deep understanding of how chronic stress manifests physically and why conventional relaxation techniques often fail for highly activated nervous systems. Her expertise centres on creating conditions where the body can genuinely release rather than forcing relaxation, understanding the paradox that trying to relax often perpetuates tension. She writes extensively about why powerful emotions sometimes emerge during passive poses, helping readers understand stored stress without pathologising their experiences. Sophie addresses practical matters including optimal prop setup, timing of restorative practice for sleep versus stress recovery, and how to progress within seemingly simple practices over years. She is passionate about helping individuals recognise that rest is productive and that nervous system regulation is foundational to all other wellness goals.