By Anne Douglas
It seems barely a week goes by before I find another study being published or quoted about the healing power of yoga and meditation practices.
While one can walk away from a yoga or meditation practice feeling calmer, less stressed and more balanced, it can be highly motivating to establish a regular practice. Studies continue to show the efficacy of a regular practice with specific conditions such as chronic stress, high blood pressure, immune dysfunction, addiction, anxiety, depression and more. One need only do a quick Google search to find a myriad of relevant studies.
iRest Yoga Nidra is an excellent case in point. It is a research-based meditation, relaxation and healing protocol that deeply calms the nervous system, supports the integration of negative emotions and thoughts, and helps to build resilience with everyday challenges.
Current research shows that iRest Yoga Nidra effectively reduces stress, insomnia, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, chemical dependency and post-traumatic stress. If you would like to see examples of the current research on iRest, follow this link: https://www.irest.us/research.
Not all forms of Yoga Nidra are created equal. iRest has taken the basic structure of Yoga Nidra and enhanced it by adding several therapeutic steps to heighten its effectiveness for our western lifestyle and world view.
Much of the research that has been done on Yoga Nidra in the west is on the iRest Protocol, specifically. It is an excellent personal practice as well as adjunctive practice for those in the health and healing professions. It is currently being used in yoga and meditation studios, hospitals, clinics, hospices, homeless shelters, community programs, and schools.
iRest is also a path of meditative self inquiry.
- At a basic level, it provides the initial building blocks for a mindfulness practice in which one learns to stay present and alert.
- At an intermediate level, one learns how to meet challenging experiences, emotions or beliefs in order to integrate and go beyond them.
- At the highest level, iRest offers the teachings of the “end path” of direct realization into one’s true nature as abiding peace, infinite calm, and interconnected wholeness.
If you would like to learn more about iRest Yoga Nidra, Yoga for Today is hosting Anne Douglas to lead a beautiful collection of iRest practices that range from balancing the chakras, to working with stress and negative emotions, and awakening to your essential wholeness.
April 29 – 30, 2017
Saturday – 12 – 8 pm
Sunday – 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
$350 ($295 before March 27)
This workshop qualifies as a short retreat for those who are in iRest Certification.
To learn more about Anne Douglas you can find her website at www.anahatayogatherapy.ca
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