Try Emma’s FREE Yoga Nidra recording below.
Yoga found Emma when she settled in Melbourne in 2009 after a decade of travel and adventure. She started attending a weekly hatha yoga class, where she found a sense of community and belonging, and a connection to her body and mind she’d never experienced before. In 2010 she discovered the gift of yoga nidra, in the form of a 20-minute audio recording. At this time in her life she was pretty physically, mentally and emotionally burnt out. Some days she didn’t get out of bed, let alone keep up her physical yoga practice. She listened to that recording every day for 12 months and it blew her mind that something so easy to do, could fill her with such nourishment. Feelings of depression and anxiety lifted, she slept better, ate better, breathed easier and had moments of peace and calm unlike anything she’d ever experienced!
Born in England, raised in beautiful Aotearoa (New Zealand), Emma now calls Torquay, Victoria on Wadawurrung land, home. Her favourite things in life are good food, art, poetry, yoga nidra, beach walks, sunrises/sets and coffee dates. When she’s not offering yoga sessions, you’ll find her either on her roller-skates or in her artist studio exploring what makes her, her. (www.her-emmaness.com coming soon!)
Emma is so grateful for the richness she carries with her offered by many incredible teachers. Samantha Coker Godson and the Dharma Circle Sangha, Helen Kershaw, Tamina Muir, Leigh Blashki, Jose Gossens, Kaye Tribe, Janet Lowndes, Angela Hass, Andrew Mournehis, AG and Indra Mohan, Kamini Desai, John Vosler, Paul Wooden, Kaya Mindlin, Anahata Giri and Dale (Dhali) Sandwith.
2012 – 2013 (1000+ hours) Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching 21898VIC, CAE in partnership with the Academy of Yoga Learning.
2015 (100 hours) Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra, Immersion and certification
2017 (40 hours) Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra, Advanced professional training
2019 (20 hours) Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra, Advanced professional training
2019 (24 Hours) Sry Veda School, Nectar of Nidra Certification, Ayurvedic Sleep Care & Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra is an ancient sleep-based meditation technique and a pathway to the deep rest you have been searching for. Layers of physical, mental and emotional holding are released as you rest back into a nourishing inner presence of wholeness and ease.
Regular practice helps to increase sleep quality, undo habits of stress and insomnia, reduce depression and anxiety, as well as boost energy and focus.
The beauty of Yoga Nidra is you can’t do it wrong. Your only ‘job’ is to get as comfortable as possible.
Lie down: This type of meditation is the shift from doing to being. If possible find a place to lie down that you will be as comfortable as possible. If you can’t to lie of your back for any reason, any other position where you are least likely to move is best. You can lie on your side, or try an upright position seated in a chair or any meditation position.
Get comfortable: A small pillow or padding under the head prevents sensitivity in this area. To relieve the lower back place some height under the
knees. Bolster or your legs over the seat of a chair or couch works well too. Pad or prop any other area as needed to eliminate discomfort. An eye pillow or scarf can be used to cover the eyes.
Use a blanket: Body temperature drops during yoga Nidra. Cover your self with a blanket or have one in reach should you need it.
Tip: Silence your device or place it on ‘do not disturb’ mode so you will not be interrupted for the duration of your practice.
Frequency of practice: Most studies on the benefit of mediation and yoga Nidra are based on 20-40 minutes practice either daily, or 5 times a week. Many report benefits practicing three times a week.
Please note that practicing twice a day or more is an advanced practice. Be aware that with such practice you may experience detoxification effects with may include mild flu-like symptoms such as headaches, achiness and moodiness, all of which usually passes within 24 hours. Drink plenty of water, rest and get fresh air to assist in the cleansing process. If symptoms persist, reduce frequency and duration of practice.
Adrenal Healing Series
This series is part of whats offered in the monthly workshop. It was created and taught to Emma by her teacher Leigh Blashki. It’s a simple, breath-based practice (a form of yoga therapy), given in a particular sequence to bring a balance to the physiological function of the whole system. Simple, mindful movements combined and aligned with the breath aim to restore and refresh the adrenal glands, so they can do their job, the way they were meant to. Lovely deep, counted breathing supports the nervous system and offers the mind something to focus on.
What are the adrenal glands?
The adrenal glands sit on top of your two kidneys in the middle of your lower back area. They are about 6cm long and 2.5cm wide, one moon shaped and one triangle. Responsible for producing the pre-cursor material that the body needs to make required levels of stress hormones, sex hormones, and other hormones and neurotransmitters by the body. After a period of chronic stress, your body starts to run out of the hormone pre-cursor material. As this continues, it becomes more and more difficult for your body to produce the required levels of hormones to feel well and feelings of ‘fatigue’ show up.