Upcoming Workshops and Events:
Forever Connected - An Afternoon with Amelia
May 24, 2020
3-4:30pm
How can we find peace in our new normal?
Join Amelia for live online guided pranayama, experiential movement, asana and meditation.
Pricing on a sliding scale. Proceeds for this special offering will go toward keeping BYS operating and ready to physically reopen when it is safe to do so.
$10; $15, $20 and recording options available
Full Moon Yoga Nidra with Rick
June 05, 2020
7pm - 7:45pm - Proceeds for this special offering will go toward keeping BYS operating and ready to reopen when it is physically safe to do so. Pricing for this event is on a sliding scale.
$10; $15, $20 and recording options available
In the practice of yoga nidra the body sleeps but the mind remains awake listening to the instructions. This form of guided sensory withdrawal from the constant drumbeat of the senses, while maintaining a stable, wakeful state provides very deep relaxation to the body and mind but also has a number of additional benefits.
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It allows you to remain aware while experiencing a range of brain wave-states you are unable to access during normal waking consciousness.
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It allows energies and emotional states to be released from unconscious points of tension and stuck-ness.
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It allows for these energies and emotions to be experienced without enabling the mind to engage in discursive, monkey mind jumps.
About the Workshop
As we’re working to adjust to life in a chaotic, transforming world that includes a paradoxical requirement to remain locked up in a state of quarantine. These conflicting conditions can contribute to states of negative stress that impact our personality, causing the mind to be locked in states of arousal and tension.
Regular yoga practitioners know the benefits of using asana, pranayama and other yogic techniques to alleviate some of these stresses. But it is extremely difficult to quiet the mind enough to do the crucial internal work of deep physical and psychic release. Anyone who has practiced meditation knows how hard it is to achieve a quiet, stable mind withdrawn from the riot of sensory input that assails us.
Yoga nidra is an easy way to engage in the yogic practice of pratyahara,which is often described as “sense withdrawal.” It is a method of turning the energy of the wakeful mind, primarily dominated by sensory input, inward toward other channels of mind/body intelligence.
Translated literally, yoga nidra means 'psychic sleep' i.e. sleep with full awareness. Yoga nidra has its origin in the ancient tantric practice called nyasa. Tantric Nyasa technique moves wakeful consciousness from marma point to marma point, which are the intersection of nadis (channels) through which prana flows)
Tips for a great yoga nidra practice
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Take care of your digestion needs ahead of time. You don’t want to be distracted by being hungry or thirsty or too full, or feeling like you have to use the bathroom.
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It helps to eliminate distraction. If you live in a space with others, let them know you will be practicing - maybe even invite them to join - so you aren’t interrupted or distracted by noise around you.
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No camera needed. Rick won’t be on camera, so there’s nothing for you to look at. Just be sure you can hear him, so log in, say hello and make sure you’re able to hear.
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Headphones welcome! It’s totally ok to connect your device to headphones. This might help with eliminating distraction from outside noise as well!
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Cover your eyes. If you have an eye pillow, great! Use that to cover your eyes to help you keep your gaze inside. If you don’t have an eye pillow, any soft covering will do the trick.