Welcome to my first (ever) blog. I’m loving the process of now being able to keep in touch with you through my monthly newsletter, socials and web page, with all the things that nurture and renew your body & mind. If there is anything that you would love to hear about over the coming months please get in touch and we can explore together.
As I’m approaching my 9th year of sharing the wonderous gifts of yoga I’m reflecting on all the different ways we can find a doorway inward through these ancient and continuously relevant tools. Over the years my own practice has been mostly through movement. It matches my ‘go getter’ nature, and it’s a positive trait. Within the last year or two, like many of you, with so much change surrounding us, it has become clear that there is a need to keep topping up my resilience tank. You may catch up with friends for a drink, go for a walk taking in nature, read a book, get your hair done or have a massage. But what about the simplicity of just rest? Yep… if I counted the scrolling time each day there would be hands down time to gift myself just that!
In this first blog I’m sharing with you my insights and research into the blissful ritual of ‘Conscious Rest’ (Yoga Nidra) as a daily practice. I’m also offering up an on-line live and on-demand practice for you to experience yourselves.
I’m shortly due to complete my Yoga Therapy studies, and it’s been non-stop consuming information & research. Our first assignment was to design our own practice based on our individual needs. At the time, early 2021 after the turmoil of 2020, like many others, there was a mixture of exhaustion, gratitude and to be honest a feeling of ‘I’m starting all over again’. With the stop/start of teaching classes, home & busy family routine I came to the conclusion that what I needed was plain and simple ‘REST’. I found one of my most loved teachers’ (Shiva Rea) practice on audible and it took me back to that feeling & memory of being on retreat and the beautiful afternoon ritual we created over the week. I committed to taking a mini-retreat for 20mins each day, laying down either on my mat or on my bed. The task was to journal the experience over a month. In short, I had not expected that I would feel like a completely new person after practicing for 20 mins a day. I had more energy & gratitude. I approached mundane home & admin tasks with more love. I felt insightful and had a meditative awareness & resilience to support my 2 teenage boys. Resting was my coming home to me.
I was recently recommended a book (audio and paperback) ‘Wake up to Sleep’ 5 Powerful Practices to transform stress & trauma for peaceful sleep and mindful dreams by ‘Charlie Morley’. His book is a good reminder around why rest is so important in our fast-paced busy lives. Charley explains ‘rest is sleeps’ favourite cousin’ and rest is the bridge that leads to sleeping well.
I have had many nights (and I’m sure you can relate) where you are trying to go to sleep after a busy day of work, kids, appointments & life full to the brim. Or you awake at 2am with a busy mind. Falling asleep is controlled by our Autonomic nervous System, the (ANS). It’s the gatekeeper of relaxation & sleep. Stress & alertness can inhibit it. There are 2 parts to the ANS system. Sympathetic Nervous System (fight or flight; heart rate increases and release of hormones such as cortisol- the alertness hormone). The other part is the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS -rest & digest, hormones to relax & revive, heart rate & breathing slows, cells repair) The fast paced ‘always doing’ state that we spend much time in can lead to ‘dominance of activation of ‘low-level’ fight or flight’. Charlie details Yoga Nidra as a ‘powerful practices’ to bring about balance in our ANS. Sleep requires a balanced state of the (ANS) with a dominance of the PNS (rest & digest). It can take a little while to bring ourselves into a restful state and we can access it consciously through breathing, or as simple as lying down to do Yoga Nidra. (who doesn’t love an afternoon nap).
If you are looking to relieve tension, anxiety, stress & exhaustion or are you struggling with insomnia or going to sleep? This practice is safe and accessible anytime. If you sit all day, lying down will feel more relaxing than a seated meditation. There is never a bad time to do Yoga Nidra. You could apply before bed as a closing ritual to your day.
What is Yoga Nidra? A deeply healing relaxation that takes us to a place between asleep and awake. It is simply resting, ideally lying down. You are following a guided voice to different points of focus from gross to subtle. Step by step bringing your awareness inward, taking time to separate your consciousness from outer to the inner.
Here are some healing benefits we all may be craving:
- Yoga Nidra is a scientifically proven technique to balance the ANS, which improves sleep. With practice, you can find a deep meditative awareness.
- Hypnagogic Mindfulness is a doorway to sleep & helps the body get into the habit of relaxing ‘it trains the body to remember how to get to sleep’.
- This is a deeply meditative practice & promotes healing & rest on all levels.
- Relieves insomnia, helps with pain, anxiety & stress.
- Studies have shown yoga Nidra leads to decreases body tension, increases creativity & vitality & resilience.
Tips to create effortless rest:
- Make sure you are comfortable and feel warm (socks, blankets, eyebags all help).
- Headphones to soften external noise if required.
- Do your best to practice at a similar time each day (be realistic though… if you feel the need now then don’t resist it).
- Lying down is ideal and will counteract sitting all day (either on your mat, bed, or lounge).
- Create a restful and healing space that will bring you inward through something you love (scents, essential oils, favourite cushion/blanket/room or space).
As this has become my most favourite ‘personal Yoga practice’, naturally it’s the first on-demand practice I have created. I’ve include how to set up a simple restorative Savasana to support your joints and an “Introduction to Yoga Nidra Practice” for you to access at any time for just $25. As a bonus you can join me for 3 live evening practices and learn more about this deeply healing ritual together. Join me for the 25 Day Rest Challenge commencing Wednesday 19th October.
If you are keen to jump in and challenge yourself to rest daily all you need to do is:
1. Sign up for the Yoga Nidra Practice on my on-line page.
2. Join the private facebook group and here you will receive updates and the links to the live practices or I can email you.
With Love,
Ali