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.  

Dreaming of our ancestors - nidra on November 6

This time of the year the veil between the living and ancestors thins.  The darkness of winter deepens.  It is the perfect time to rest in the liminal space of yoga nidra, where the veils between the waking, sleep and dream states are also thin.  During yoga nidra the nervous system shifts to the parasympathetic state, where healing and deep inner knowing can unfold.   It is a time to slow down and care for yourself by doing literally nothing.  

This special class is a place to support your connection to ancestors through resting in yoga nidra. My nidra meditation will be infused with seasonal imagery to call in your ancestors and support, reflecting my culture as a woman of Mexican heritage, living in Oaxaca, a place that profoundly celebrates the ancestors at this time of year.  Before the class you will receive guidance to create an altar to nurture yourself and your connection to ancestors.  After the nidra meditation there will be time for journaling.   

Registration is open.

Beginners are welcome. I check in via email with students new to my offerings to support their experience.   If you are new to her offerings, please register early to allow time for connecting.   

What you receive:  

• 1 live nidra class on Zoom

• Recording of the class available for your personal practice or if the class date/time doesn’t work for your schedule.  Available until the end of November.

• Guidance on creating an ancestral altar prior to the class.  

• Email access to me for questions that might arise.  

Payment for the series is $25.  Students pay me directly via Venmo at  Rita-Jimenez-4 or PayPal [handle is @ritaj65].  

Learning more about yoga nidra, about me the yoga teacher...

I love yoga nidra and sharing this practice brings me joy.  So I was very grateful my friend and fellow yoga teacher Sarah Nelsen interviewed me on her podcast about nidra.  Click on the word podcast, and you will head to Spotify.  

If you are curious about what yoga nidra is and what I offer, please give it a listen.

There is a short nidra practice at the end too.  Don't practice nidra while driving or riding your bike please!  

My longer nidras generally include poetry and options to include essential oils and crystals.   Sometimes plant medicine too.   

I always post about upcoming yoga nidra series here on this blog, so follow me to keep up to date.  

Nidra and creativity - a new series is coming this September

I have experienced first hand the power of nidra to support creativity.  As the past 5 years have unfolded I have written over 20 picture book manuscripts, learned print making and participated in my first gallery show, as well as created so many yoga nidra experiences for my students.  All while resting nearly daily in my nidra practice.  

Whatever role(s) you play in the world, creativity is the joyful spark that transforms.  Activist, teacher, visual artist, writer, cook, gardener or parent.  All these roles and more are nourished by creativity.  This series is a place to support your creativity through resting in yoga nidra, a nourishing liminal space guided by yours truly.  My nidra meditations are infused with imagery to call in your muses and support.   Affirmations. Poetry. A chance to craft an intention to support your creative self.

What you receive:  

• 3 live nidra classes on Zoom

• Recordings of the classes available for your personal practice or if the class date/time doesn’t work for your schedule. 

• My document on creating a sankalpa or intention to support your creativity.  

• Email access to me during the series.  

The details:

Thursdays September 4, 11, 25 from 7:30-8:30  pm PST 

Registration closes on September 1.  Register here.

Payment for the series is $100.  Students pay me directly via Venmo at  Rita-Jimenez-4 or PayPal [handle is @ritaj65].