by JenYoga! | Jul 7, 2022
Before discovering Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra, I felt like I was mostly in a state of panic – fight or flight. My adrenals were overworked. My body begged for rest: I did not know how to invite rest or even begin to relax. Not knowing this only taxed my body, mind, and spirit further. I lacked true connection in nearly all aspects of my life.
The ‘Three P’s’ as in ‘Parent, Public school teacher, and Pandemic’ had taken over the ‘Three C’s’ in my life: ‘Clarity, Control, and Connection’. I was spinning out of control. My attention and energy was focused on putting out the fires in life that were seemingly growing faster than I could control.
As an educator, I could not accept the lack of efficacy I was experiencing at work, and therefore I exhausted endless amounts of energy trying to change things. My students were hurting, confused and stuck. I felt that I could not guide nor heal them in the way my heart wanted to.
It left me feeling inept as an educator. What used to bring me joy, now left me in panic. My own children were also suffering. My youngest pre-teen child had bouts of sobbing on the floor and in my arms, then fell into a deep depression. I felt helpless watching my child suffer. There was no energy for anything more than getting through that very day. Therapy, medication, family workouts and meditation – yet it still was not enough.
My first experience with Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra with Jennifer was at Kripalu. The experience was both profound and delicious. I melted into bliss and the practice left an imprint on my body and nervous system: pure ‘knowing’ had been awakened. It subconsciously tugged at me to acknowledge and listen.
Although my mind did not fully understand the process or what yoga nidra really was, I could feel the depth of its effects. This knowledge inspired the beginning of my journey in what has become a very important and impactful life changer which continues to unfold.
I Just Melted
My practice of Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra taught me how to invite my body to welcome what it was begging for, and I let myself melt. It helped me to restore ‘Clarity, Control, and Connection’ within my life, one day at a time.
The more I explored what Jennifer had to offer, the more I journeyed into inner peace. I just melted! I felt a greater sense of control and was capable of managing what before seemed impossible. Clarity arose more and more as time progressed.
For healing and deeper connection, I attended Jennifer’s Weekend Retreat at Kripalu Center. This was all that my body and soul ached for. One blissful weekend – it was wonderful. ‘After enlightenment, the laundry’ it has been said. Returning, I struggled to bring that peace into everyday life. But then, as a beacon of light, when I saw in Jennifer’s newsletter the invitation for more in her teacher training, I intuitively knew this was for me!
I signed up for Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra Teacher Training without hesitation, and also without any intention to actually lead it, because I knew the learning would serve me. The content was structured, on point, clear, and immersive.
The connection with others I made in the group was reassuring and inspiring. Jennifer’s commitment to learning and relationship was amazing. I loved that she wove in supplemental modalities such as mudras and energy points.
It was rich and intense and I know that through this experience I have built the most important foundation from which my future experiences will flourish.
This training had an unexpected delightful effect on my family. In preparation for our final training assignment, I led my two boys in yoga nidra from a script that I compiled and wrote myself. I was in awe of their experiences. “Wow Mom, that was amazing!” and “Where did you learn that?” It was as if I had learned something exotic and special.
In this moment I learned that my family practicing together is not only what we all need, but could also help them have the tools for navigating the uncertainty of the future.
Their willingness and gratitude for the practice has led to an unexpected family connection which I cherish. With this encouragement, I know now that I will lead yoga nidra. I will also have more to offer in the upcoming school year because of my new learning.
Now that I am clear, connected, and in control I feel more able and right now I am looking forward to taking my 200-hour yoga teacher training. Ultimately, myself, my family and my students are all benefiting from yoga nidra. I could not be more grateful.
Thank you Jennifer! I appreciate so much all you have had to offer and I am looking forward to continued connection and learning.
by JenYoga! | Apr 7, 2022
In the past, I was very disconnected from my body, and had little energy. Some challenging life circumstances – including being a care-giver – made me put myself last. I also was in a place of tolerating circumstances I would now find unacceptable. I endured physical trauma, was neglecting myself, and stress in my life compounded it.
During the past two years, I have been focusing ‘letting go’, and on giving myself better self-care. But something was still amiss. I felt sluggish, stiff and depressed. Although I had a practice of daily art-making, journaling, and other sources to help expand my recovery, a piece to the puzzle was missing.
An Instagram a posting of Jennifer’s class popped up. I liked what I read, as the guided imagery components appealed to me. I took one class to try it out, and the meditation and imagery got me hooked! After one session something had shifted for me. I then signed up for a month-long series of Jennifer’s joint nourishing yoga.
I have made a commitment to myself to regularly attend classes Jennifer teaches because of how much lighter and brighter I feel after. My limbs have more energy and I feel newfound freedom. My body is releasing the physical abuse it absorbed. Best of all, it has me getting physically stronger, but in a gentle way. I also feel increased creativity in my art, and in my life.
Jennifer’s encouraging voice reminds me that I will benefit from the yoga practices themselves just by doing them, and that I do not have to ‘push it’. This shift of how I hold myself and live in my body is positive. Jennifer’s classes are helping me return to my body and soul after being not present in it for a long time. I am learning to listen to my body and heart and care for myself. I am finding myself again.
The yoga nidras guide me to a place of ease and comfort. Combined with the yoga postures, it gives me a way to heal that feels whole and complete. I look forward to the variety of practices I take with Jennifer during the week because with one, I know I am building wellness habits, and nourishing my relationship with myself. With each class I feel myself blooming and expanding. I am very grateful to be able to participate in these online classes.
by | Mar 12, 2022
The memories of the experiences of unresolved trauma can get locked in the body. This can affect the nervous system and brain, and distract us from seeing our wholeness, our innate goodness. For me, my memories from my traumatic experiences had gotten locked in my nervous system.
A few years ago, I suffered a traumatic depression, and lost 51 pounds, weighing about 80 pounds when I went to the hospital. I was in hospital for three months recovering. A couple of months after I returned home, the pandemic began. I was first introduced to yoga practice at Kripalu Center in the 1980’s, I’ve had a yoga and mindfulness meditation practice for many years. When I returned home from the rehabilitation hospital, I began the journey to re-learn to walk and to recover from severe vertigo.
I began practicing with Jennifer and her online community at that time. And because of the pandemic, I was missing my yoga practice and my yoga community, and also could not yet stand, nor walk easily. I wanted to find a class where I could try standing poses: I felt ready. Jennifer’s website says: ‘Balance and Restore your Whole Being’. That sounded just right! I wrote to Jennifer explaining my physical challenges and quickly received a reply welcoming me to the class.
‘Circle of Hearts’ by Elias Garcia, Guatemala
During the first class, Jennifer said three-four times “and if you are in a chair,” and offered suggestions to adapt the poses. I felt included and comfortable. Jennifer’s yoga nidra practice includes a central element of ‘noticing your heart’s longing’, and then stating it as the truth in an intention.
During my first yoga nidra practice with her, the intention ‘I am whole, just as I am’, came to me. It was a moment of sweet relief. I have been returning to the same intention for the past two years. I sometimes completely forget it, and then it gently whispers, and I return to my whole self.
From spring to fall I participated in 2-3 of Jennifer’s classes each week. I learned new tools for my toolbox, including mudras, and self-massage incorporating marma points, and the energy channel meridians. I also was doing traditional western medicine physical therapy.
My healing deepened as I learned. My mind, heart and body began integrating my learning of Five Element Yoga practice with Jennifer into my physical therapy sessions, for example: independently standing on two legs with feet hip distance apart or wider, and then moving into Mountain pose, softly floating the words of my intention through me, with my hands in Earth Mudra, with slow and full three-part breathing.
This practice filled me from every angle with the confidence and nourishment I needed. Feeling so much better, in the fall of 2020, I joined Divine Sleep ®Yoga Nidra training! It was wonderful to spend that amount of quality time learning about yoga nidra.
I began neuroplasticity exercises in a local pool. I cannot yet drive, so I get to and from the pool with LYFT rides. The experience of meeting new drivers every day, many who are not fluent in English—and I am not fluent in their language— some who are impatient, and my needing to explain the specific details of the assistance I need to remain safe from falls and cars can take a great deal of energy and patience. I definitely rely on both the stability and the calm that my Five Element Yoga and yoga nidra practices have brought me as wonderful resources during this time.
Then Jennifer first offered her Vagus Nerve Yoga series. I had been studying PolyVagal theory for several years and loved attending yoga classes with this focus. Plus, after taking a break to be in the pool, it felt wonderful to return, and to know my place had been kept in Jennifer’s circle, as Jennifer and her husband Michael and the community patiently waited for me to know when I was ready to return.
I love the work – and feel so inspired by it. I have a new awareness of my vagal system functioning now in my yoga and yoga nidra practice. And I’ve also developed a Mindfulness Power Point presentation for classroom teachers incorporating Polyvagal Theory.
Currently I’m attending Nourishing the Joints Series with Jennifer, and also looking forward to her Ayurvedic Massage workshop this weekend: more great opportunities to deepen my practice, my healing and my life.
What’s exciting to me is that I am bringing all of these practices together! In the pool, I practice some of the Joint yoga from Jennifer’s class example: gentle ‘stomping’ to reset the pelvis. Stomping on my mat created too much dizziness, but I realized I can do it in the water! Realizing this, the corners of my lips turned up into a soft smile. I love this because water element lives in the joints, and here I was in water, nourishing my joints.
Now, my nervous system, mind and heart are all repairing in a natural way. The trauma energy that had remained in my nervous system distracted me from feeling safe, and that led me to experience loneliness and at times deep isolation.
My yoga and mindfulness practices have given me space to repair my unresolved trauma wounds. During this time of post trauma growth, I have been seeking safe spaces and people to nourish my need for the intimacy of authentic friendship.
Jennifer and Michael and the caring circle of members of this community, this circle of hearts, have been a home base for me during these last two and a half years, as I continue to repair and heal. I am grateful for this opportunity via Zoom. I offer my words to you from a repaired heart♡
Esther Brandon
Well-Being Coaching And Consulting
https://www.estherbrandoncoaching.com
Esther@EstherBrandonCoaching.com
by | Feb 4, 2022
Before I began practicing yoga, I was very competitive and achievement-oriented – a classic Type A personality. I worked myself into exhaustion through over-effort in every area of my life. Through my academic training, I had become A linear thinker: analyzing data, reporting results of empirical investigations, and also teaching students to have the same skill set.
I was not totally available or approachable to others because of my orientation to achievement rather than simple presence. My heart longed for more balance. I wanted a deeper connection with my friends and family. I felt like I had little to give to others and needed to nourish my spirit.
A lovely yoga teacher named Terri moved to my small town, and looking to find greater balance in my life, I began my yoga journey. From the first class, I knew I had found my path for living a healthy, heart-centered, and joyous life! Our teachers are precious gifts.
Five years later I became a certified yoga teacher, not with the goal of teaching, but to deepen my own understanding and practice. I fell in love with yoga nidra during the training. There was no yoga nidra teacher in my area, so I made do with books and recordings.
I attended a yoga retreat and met one of my most precious soul sisters, Judith. We have remained close over the years and during the pandemic, Judith hosted a yoga birthday party in which Jennifer taught a class via Zoom. I loved Jennifer’s creative style and yoga nidra journeys, so I began attending her classes online.
My Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra practice has helped nurture what I call the ‘Hawaiian sunrise’ in my own heart that is always there, even if I don’t always feel like I’m in paradise, I know it’s in me! Now I trust in my calm, peaceful center.
This has been a big support as I have recently returned to in-person college teaching, and all the stresses this era brings. My heart’s desire is for the glow of my ‘inner sunrise’ to be a source of light and refuge to others. I know that when I am in this good space it radiates outward to those with whom I connect.
My yoga and yoga nidra practice feeds my creativity, helps me to cultivate joy, and allows me to be more present and more heart centered. I am grateful to have these practices because they have helped me tap into my true nature. This way of living feels much better!
by | Jan 7, 2022
I received this lovely and inspiring letter from Laura who began studying with me many moons ago, and I wanted to share her light with you! She agreed to post her letter here:
“I want to thank you so much for offering your beautiful and healing yoga nidra sessions online. It has truly been a silver lining of the pandemic for me. I have loved your work and your classes ever since my first trip to Kripalu Center years ago, when I took your Friday evening yoga class, and you introduced me to mudras.
That lead me on a few stepping stones: first I bought your mudra guide, and then the Mudra book by Joseph LePage, and then was inspired to take your Five Element Yoga® Teacher Training!
I had been wanting to study more with you, but it’s so hard for me to travel to you, so I have felt so blessed to be able to continue practicing with you online. I am unfortunately never able to attend the online sessions live, but practice the recordings you so helpfully send out after class.
I love how you talk about how ‘time and space don’t exist’, and that makes me feel connected to the loving community you’ve created.
I have a chronic illness and have been particularly sick since November 2020, after which I started practicing with you online. Yoga nidra classes have provided so much healing and comfort to me. In fact, I always feel a bit lost on Mondays, when I don’t have one of your beautiful yoga nidra sessions to look forward to!
In one of your sessions a few months ago, you had us paint an imagine during the journey, and then suggested we paint it in real life afterwards. I hadn’t picked up paint in probably 25 years, but later that day, with my toddler Bernardo, I painted what I had seen during the session, and now have that sweet painting hanging over my desk!
Thank you so much for what you offer to the world, for the beauty and healing and community of your yoga nidra, for your constant warmth and honesty and vulnerability, and for so many inspiring journeys. I hope you continue to offer your yoga nidra online – and even if it is a rewind on-demand class – I could listen to any and all of them hundreds of times!
Thank you so much for offering your spirit to me in such a healing and profound way! It has changed my life for the better.
Update 2022: I have actually been doing decently well managing with my chronic illness and I am much better now! I feel so much gratitude, and I continue to practice your yoga nidra sessions almost daily! I still have to be very careful and prioritize my health above all else, so it remains a challenge, but I haven’t had a relapse since beginning to practice with you online!
hugs,
Laura”
This training had an unexpected delightful effect on my family. In preparation for our final training assignment, I led my two boys in yoga nidra from a script that I compiled and wrote myself. I was in awe of their experiences. “Wow Mom, that was amazing!” and “Where did you learn that?” It was as if I had learned something exotic and special.
Now that I am clear, connected, and in control I feel more able and right now I am looking forward to taking my 200-hour yoga teacher training. Ultimately, myself, my family and my students are all benefiting from yoga nidra. I could not be more grateful.
