Jennifer Reis Yoga

I was diagnosed with breast cancer over 20 years ago during my thirties. Having never been ill before, I felt the wind knocked out of life as I knew it. A good friend gave me books to read on mind-body medicine, and introduced me to meditation and yoga. These were a welcome source of comfort and strength as I navigated the uncharted waters of a scary illness and treatments. I am happy to say that chapter ended successfully and also helped shape the person I’ve become.

For one thing, it began my yoga journey! Over the years, I took a number of different yoga classes, but it wasn’t until I went to Kripalu Center for the first time in 2008 that I really fell in love with it. I took a 5-day class for women and met some incredible people – and learned lifelong lessons in taking better care of myself. It was also at that time that I discovered Jennifer Reis and her gentle wonderful yoga classes and workshops. I have been following her Radiant Being Newsletter since then, and happily nurtured by it over the years.

Life’s journeys and ups and downs always found me seeking grounding and peace of mind through yoga and I often turned to yoga videos from Kripalu and Jennifer’s Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra journeys on CD.

As I was recovering from a successful surgery this past March, the world suddenly fell apart with COVID 19. Open one day, closed the next. How could I stand up straight when the world is turned sideways and the doors are swinging backward? All I seem to see, feel, hear, taste and smell was unwelcome change, isolation, pain and loss in some way. I was slipping and sliding on the daily doses of bad news, feeling out of control.

I was furloughed from my job due to the pandemic and was looking for an anchor, something to ground and calm me on this unsteady terrain called life in 2020. But shining lights do exist in the darkness, I have found new light! One of them was in the form of an e-mail from Jennifer stating that she was offering daily Live Online yoga classes!

I began taking Jennifer’s online Yoga and Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra classes in May. They have become addictive! I especially love her Immune Boost class on Mondays! I find my days are not complete without her sessions.

Before I practiced online with Jennifer, I felt unfocused, had trouble sleeping, and was a bit overcome with the world. Now that I’ve been attending her online classes, I feel better able to approach life in a proactive way, instead of reacting, by choosing to help out where I can, instead of hiding. Now I understand that I can make choices and I feel more empowered.

I know that I have the grounding protective inner forces I need to help me become ever more resilient and kind. And I am able to find joy in the grief. This work, and these realizations, are so important to me at this time.

Jennifer’s passion for what she does is evident. Her soothing voice, her compassionate presence, her uplifting, vivid and powerful guided meditations in Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra help make me feel more positive – not only about what is happening outside in the world – but most especially what is going on inside of me. I never really knew before that I can dare to swim, and run and fly and soar if I want to, AND that I am always safe and nurtured.

I was able to finally acknowledge my heart’s truest longing, and put my intention out to the universe. That was a particularly emotional healing moment for me during Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra.

Jennifer’s classes are different from others in that she combines yoga with energy channel work, the Five Elements, Ayurveda, and Chinese medicine. Jennifer is healing, positive energy in all she does! Her Workshops are wonderful too! I found so much help in her Self-Massage and Mudra workshops. I look forward to learning something new each day with her. Now I’m able to balance my energy better. I am more awake and aware and connected. It’s comforting to me that now when I stir myself up in a good way, I settle in a better, more harmonious way. That is something I’ve struggled with in the past.