Total Yoga Nidra Teacher Training - what an experience

 I am back from Italy and going to be integrating the experience for a long time….the teacher training was a remarkable experience.  Uma embodies the wisdom of nidra shakti, the energy of sleep, and transmits so much. She does it all with humor, some F-bombs and a lifetime dedicated to nidra and yoga. We covered yoga philosophy, explored the many therapeutic benefits of nidra (there’s a whole chapter on this in her encyclopedia) and more.  We practiced nidra a few times a day, and then we went into teacher mode, teaching short 15 minute nidras.  As a nidra teacher I felt myself deepening my knowledge of nidra, as well as my personal practice.  I have been on this path of learning from Uma for about 6 years now.  She was a guest speaker at my first nidra teacher training, then I took her Total Yoga Nidra Immersion online a few years ago, all the while practicing many of her nidras on her website, so meeting her in person felt natural….like “about time you sit down and study with her IRL.” 

The 11 students came from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, US and me, representing Latin America.  It was such a lovely group of people – all passionate about yoga and yoga nidra.  

The site of the retreat is at Tara Nature Retreat in the Umbria countryside, and it was so restful.  Our shala for the retreat.

No television, a beautiful outdoor platform for yoga, a fantastic pool where we did a watery aqua nidra, bringing together two of my favorite things - being in a pool and nidra! 

The food was prepared by Reena, a chef that accompanies Uma on some of her events and has done the nidra training. She has roots in India, so her menu was this amazing blend of Indian dishes, with sometimes some Italian ones.  All vegetarian.  

So now I am working on my case study, which will be offering 4  yoga nidras to a group of students, gathering their feedback, to create a report for submission to Uma.  Then I will be a certified Total Yoga Nidra teacher.  

Total Yoga Nidra Teacher Training!

During my Bhakti Yoga Movement Center Teacher training I remember asking one of our teachers Danielle Hanna about yoga nidra teacher trainings, and she pointed me to Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (as well as Tracee Stanlee).  That was about 6 years and a life time ago.  Since then I have immersed myself in Uma's free nidra library, contributed one of my own nidras to it, taken the online Total Yoga Nidra Immersion (fantastic!) and been scoping out when I can take her nidra teacher training.  

2026 was the year, and I decided that last year.  Nailing down dates and all the logistics for this amazing training, which is happening in Umbria, Italy.  Check out this lovely farm which hosts the retreat.  This experience is truly a bucket list trip in every way.  

If you are curious about Uma, her Instagram is a good place, and so is YouTube.  After the training wraps up I will be posting about the experience, including photos.  

Accessible Yoga community

Several years ago I took a wonderful Accessible Yoga training with Jivana Heyman and Amber Karnes, and I remain connected via their newsletter and Facebook group, which is a gathering place of amazing teachers asking questions and sharing wisdom.  Today I came across a post from a family member/yoga teacher wanting to offer support to a dying niece.  The answers were full of compassion, deep wisdom and experience, and of course, as I anticipated, several mentioned yoga nidra.  

One answer caught my eye because this yoga teacher Molly Lannon Kenny has devoted her life to accompanying the dying and also offered such gracious support to this person.   So I did a bit of research (because I am, after all, a researcher), and wow, I have found my next training.  She's even based in Mexico, in Nayarit.  

I am forever grateful to this community and teachings that offer support to so many, in so many ways.  

Yoga for grieving hearts and upcoming changes

 In June my only offering is a special nidra on grief on June 11th from 7-8 pm PST.  Register here. This nidra is very close to my heart.  I created it when my family and I were grieving the death of my mom. We still are. Every fresh grief can bring up earlier ones.  I think of grief like archaeology of the heart.  So come join me to hold your heart and its grief with tenderness and rest. There is much to grieve. Climate grief. The grief of oppressive systems that hurt living things. Our personal heartbreaks. Our collective ones. Often grief impacts our ability to rest and sleep, so nidra holds a particular support for grieving folks.  

Grief is letting go and saying goodbye.  This June offering will be my final one with the Bhakti Yoga Movement Center, which holds a special place in my heart.  I’ve been teaching at the studio for 5 years, as COVID unfolded and changed our lives. This is the studio where I did my first yoga teacher training, and where I found a yoga home with many truly special humans. We part ways with mutual respect and love of these remarkable teachings.   

I will continue to teach yoga nidra virtually.  You will continue to get these emails with updates on my offerings.  For me, teaching nidra is about service - to my students and the collective that benefits from rested humans. 

The payment process will remain the same - via Venmo and PayPal.  I am lowering my fees to make my classes more accessible.  I will be exploring different days and times of the day that will serve you best, and so expect a survey to come your way in the next few months. I will be using Google Meet, not Zoom.  Some things are changing, and some things are not.  

If you have questions, feel free to reach out.  

May nidra series open for registration

Next month I will be offering my short and sweet yoga nidra series, which is just like it sounds - a nourishing nidra class of 30 minutes.  No journaling prompts.  Just some sweet rest on a Thursday evening to ease you towards your weekend.  

I have intentionally not increased the price of this series because I want you (and the whole world) to rest and downregulate your nervous system.  So please join me in the Zoom studio. Register here, and payment is directly to me through Venmo or PayPal.  

On June 11 I will be offering a special yoga nidra class on grief, registration details will be coming in a future email update.  That will be my only offering in June.  

 

Yoga nidra in 2026 - new series starts on April 9

I am taking a couple of months off from teaching nidra, as I am in Arizona right now, and then Mexico City next month.  To tide you over until then, here’s a recording of a nidra of mine.  

I’m coming back to the BYMC studio with a sweet series in April. This series is all about nurturing yourself with the potent combination of yoga nidra and reiki.  To amplify that healing rest during class I will send distant reiki to students (either present at the Livestream or listening to the recording).  If you are curious about reiki, this would be a lovely introduction…

Register for the series here.

Here’s what one of my students shared about the reiki/nidra series experience:

“I am so grateful to be working with Rita to learn about and explore Nidra and Reiki. Rita is supportive and encouraging and her Nidra practices invite calm, non-judgmental rest and reflection. My dog loves it, too! She calms down alongside me and her whole body is relaxed. It's lovely. “

So mark your calendars, April 9, 16, 23, 30 from 7-8 pm PST. 

Solstice nidra class and starting 2026 with rest

 My winter solstice nidra offering is open for registration here, and I would love to see you.  December 21 at 7 pm PST in the Zoom studio.

Winter solstice is the beginning of winter for those of us in the northern hemisphere.  A time to hibernate, for deep rest, and slow down.  However the holidays can often create quite the opposite effect, which makes this nidra class one way to hit the pause button and care for yourself.  I will offer options to use crystals and essential oils during the practice, to make it extra nourishing.  As always, there will be some sweet poetry woven into the nidra.  

In January I will be offering a Thursday evening series to support setting your heart felt intention or sankalpa for 2026.  Here's the link for registration.  January 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 7 pm PST.  

I always record my classes, so you can practice at home or if you miss a livestream. 

I hope to see you in the Zoom studio for some rest in community.