DEEP REST
explore the wisdom of non-striving. rest in awareness to find self-compassion and acceptance of things as they really are, for deep physical and emotional recalibration.
supine practices allow us to edit noise, distraction and distortions caused by our default mode network. this nexus of self-doubt and self-recrimination in our brain stymies our compassion for ourselves and clouds our judgement.
by removing the veil of reactivity from the equation we break away from the painful cycle of rumination and regret. we can them use our energies to move towards constructive action suggested by open ended mind wandering during the practices.
it is the part of the self that is steady, unencumbered wakefulness. awareness lives in the now... it lives in a primordial first moment of perception before the world splits off from the one who sees it.
willa blythe baker, the wakeful body
BODY SCAN MEDITATION
we often see ourselves only through the eyes of others. the body scan meditation encourages us to experience our body as it actually exists without changing anything about it. the practice allows us to befriend ourselves and in the process be embodied.
the beginning
lay back on your mat without any props to register your body in space. begin the body scan at your feet and them move upwards.
the practice
use progressive relaxation to breathe in energy and light into your body and breathe out negativity and pain into all your body parts, one at a time. starting with your feet and ending with your breath exiting the tup of your head through an imaginary hole. as you breathe in feel your body calming down and letting go.
the challenge
not to grasp at a particular moments or body area and accept the whole of you as you are. focus attention on a single body part for a few moments, breathe into it with intention and then let it go, so you can move on to the next one.
the wisdom
just to notice and be present. gain acceptance of your body in the moment without reserving judgement.
YOGA NIDRA
access your deepest reservoir of creativity and problem solving skills during yogic sleep. suspend judgement and habitual reasoning trajectories and find unexpected answers hinging in plain sight. experience rejuvenating rest and sense of wholeness.
the beginning
lay down to rest. make yourself comfortable and warm with bolsters and blankets and be still. allow yourself to acknowledge your deepest desire or wish. this is you sankalpa and resting in awareness can help you excavate it from under layers of self-doubt and negativity you may have accumulated unaware.
the practice
yoga nidra has a specific script which begins with setting an intention and naming your deepest desire or wish. this is followed by a slow and purposeful body scan inducing progressive states of relaxation and deepening to a theta state of conscious sleep. unlike other meditation practices that lower cortisol levels in the body, yoga nidra activates the pineal gland and releases natural melatonin to reduce anxiety and reset your circadian rhythm for deep rejuvenation. access yoga nidra practices by exploring our app suggestion here.
the challenge
to be honest and open to your deepest desires or wish for your self. to keep listening and following along with you guide to deepen the theta state of relaxation.
the wisdom
a renewed sense of confidence in your abilities to problem-solve. a deep of wholeness and connection to everything else around you related to the idea of interbeing and awareness.
SAVASANA
savasana in sankrit means corpse pose. lay back and relinquish the struggle to control the narrative of your day. just breathe and be. feel inundated with a sense of calm and wellbeing in the moment.
the beginning
at the end of your physical yoga practice eliminate all props from your mat and lay back. close your eyes to reduce sensory overstimulation and breathe without conscious effort in your normal cadence. just be in the moment and listen.
the practice
follow the voice of your teacher or guide and let go layer by layer. arrive in the moment by breathing effortlessly. listen to the sounds around you beginning with far ways noises, then the subtle sounds of you immediate environment and finally to your own breath and heart beat. let go off any struggle to define your experience in words. stay there as long as you are able.
the challenge
to keep your inner voice from overtaking the experience of deep rest. to keep your default mode network in the brain from judging your non-doing and non-striving. to avoid rumination and worry about what comes next.
the wisdom
a sense of surrender as you rest in your awareness and a profound sense of relief and gratitude for yourself.
