What is iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation?
iRest is a meditation practice based on the ancient tradition of Yoga Nidra and adapted to suit the conditions of modern life. When practiced regularly – little and often – iRest enables you to meet each moment of your life with unshakable peace and wellbeing, no matter how challenging or difficult your situation.
iRest was developed by Dr. Richard Miller, a spiritual teacher, author, yogic scholar, researcher and clinical psychologist, who combined traditional yogic practice with Western psychology and neuroscience. It is practiced and taught by thousands of people worldwide in a wide range of settings, including health centres, schools, community centres, yoga studios, correctional facilities and within military and veteran communities.
iRest is simple to learn and easy to practice. It can be practiced by anyone, regardless of physical ability or experience with meditation. Once learned, iRest becomes a set of tools for life.
My journey with iRest Meditation
Since becoming an iRest teacher over ten years ago, the benefits have been truly transformative. My world view, my life view has been enriched by a deeper understanding of what meditation is, a clear and deep pathway with really practical tools not only to meet the challenges of my life, my work and my relationships, but to help me understand what my life is about. Although rooted in ancient teachings, I love how contemporary and meaningful the practice is.
How iRest has helped me personally
- Establishing Inner Resources for support when I am feeling overwhelmed or stressed
- Encouraged me to look at my life’s direction and what I really wish for (more music!)
- Connect me somatically and powerfully to my body and my breath (coming home to my own embodiment).
- Allow me to meet emotions, thoughts and beliefs with greater curiosity and ease (and how these are clear messengers).
- Understand and experience my inter-connectedness with all life, with everything, and to know my ground of wholeness, no matter the my circumstances.
How iRest has helped me as a Yoga teacher
As a Yoga teacher, studying, practicing and teaching iRest, it has been so very useful. Yes, like in my life, to meet all the ups and downs that come with being a teacher, but also in sharing meditation. iRest has given me a structure and language which I continue to refine and use when teaching:
- Conscious movement
- Meditation
- Pranayama
- Restorative Yoga
- Yoga Nidra
- and probably most importantly, in every single class I teach, Savasana – the conscious relaxation at the end of class – iRest has guided me with its simplicity, practicality and depth. It is beautifully adaptable and effective.
iRest Yoga Nidra meditation has greater applications outside of Yoga
iRest was developed by Dr. Richard Miller, a teacher, author, yogic scholar, researcher and clinical psychologist, who combined traditional yogic practice with Western psychology and neuroscience. It is practiced and taught by thousands of people worldwide in a wide range of settings, including health centres, schools, community centres, Yoga studios, correctional facilities and within military and veteran communities.
Many psychotherapists and counsellors who work somatically therapists have found iRest as valuable tool in their practices. iRest has been shown to be effective in scientific trials for conditions including chronic pain, sleep problems, depression and anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In New Zealand, on Waiheke Island, this coming Spring, iRest Level 1 Teacher Training
30th October – 4th November
with Fuyuko Toyota, assisted by Neal Ghoshal
Palm Beach, Waiheke Island
currently the extended early bird pricing is still available for just a little longer
only 3 spaces left
Full details and registration here:
yoganidra.nz/irest-yoga-nidra-level-1-training/