Our first live Yoga Nidra class is tomorrow, and I wanted to give you some tips beforehand, as I’m sure this is a new practice for many. Yoga Nidra is essentially a guided relaxation practice that takes you through the layers of your being - body, breath, mind and heart - to help you access deep rest and inner awareness. If that sounds a bit too woo woo for you, the scientific community describes it as “non-sleep deep relaxation” or NSDR. Either way you look at it, it’s a beautiful practice that brings your back to your body. To prepare for this class, make sure you have a comfortable place to lie down on the floor for about 20 min. Build yourself a nest so you are truly comfortable and warm. If your back hurts or your feet are cold, you probably won’t relax! So place a pillow or a rolled up blanket anywhere there is space between you and the floor, such as under your knees or behind your neck. Have a blanket handy if you feel cold. Perhaps an eye mask or a towel to place over your eyes if the room will be bright. At the start of class I’ll walk you through this, so just make sure you are in a quiet space and have some pillows and blankets with you for set up. Of course the replay will be available for you if you can’t make it live. Any questions before class, just drop them in the comments below!

We have our first somatics class today and I wanted to give you an idea of what to expect. If you’re joining us live, be sure to have a yoga mat, blanket or towel. For today’s class, you will need to be able to get yourself to the floor. In future classes, there will be chair options as well. You will also need a journal or paper and a pen. The theory behind this practice is that your body holds its own wisdom. We often don’t hear what it’s trying to tell us because we are so often running on automatic, or we are too distracted by everything going on around us (or even distracted by our own thoughts). In this practice, we do very slow, deliberate movements. It’s not a fitness activity, it’s a mindful one. As we do these movements, we pay attention to our sensations, emotions, and any thoughts that arise. After the movement, we do some journaling about the experience, and we leave with an action plan based on what our body has shared with us. As the membership grows and more people attend these classes live, we will add a discussion period at the end. Many find it super valuable to share these experiences and learn from each other. This part of the practice will never be shared in the replay videos to respect everyone’s privacy. So this is one glass where it’s beneficial to attend live. Please let me know if you have any questions!