I think it goes without saying that this incredible woman is such a shining light in the world, and especially in this community. Her joyful, gentle, and healing presence has touched so many of us, and I hope you’ll all join me in celebrating her today! It’s been such an honour to walk alongside you as you’ve built Nova Nidra. Your devotion and deep love for this practice (and for every person in this space) inspires me every single day. Thank you for bringing me along for the ride. I’m so very grateful for you, and I hope this next year brings you everything you deserve: big blessings, beautiful expansion, and of course — deep, nourishing rest 💘 Drop a birthday message for Ayla below so she’s absolutely lavished with love when she logs back in after celebrating today! 🥰🎉🌸

Sometimes the hardest part of practice is simply making the space for it. Even 10 minutes of rest can shift your whole nervous system. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t need silence, candles, or the “right” moment. All you need is a willingness to pause. This weekend, when will you create that space for yourself? Drop your time BELOW. Speaking it aloud here makes it easier to honour, and you might inspire someone else to take their pause too. This is an old recording, but still a lovely go-to: 10-Minute Yoga Nidra

Yesterday I got to watch a grizzly bear snoozing so deeply, with not a care in the world. Totally sprawled out, surrendered, like the weight of the world didn’t even exist. (Don't worry, I was at the zoo and in no danger!) This big sleepy gal got be thinking… do bears ever struggle with just being? Do they wrestle with their to-do lists? Or is their list more like: 1. Eat berries 🍓 2. Take nap 😴 3. Splash in river 🐟 4. Roll in the grass 🌱 5. Nap again 😴 …repeat. Honestly, it was a good reminder of what we practice in Yoga Nidra: letting go of striving, and simply being. And also, tapping into that deep, deep rest, baby!! So here’s a playful question for you: if you had a “rest spirit animal,” what would it be? Bonus points for pics!! See the pic of my new Nidra friend, Skoki, who is living her best life at the Calgary Zoo! AND a big BEAR HUG and welcome to the newest members of our SLEUTH this week (that is what a group of bears is called, I just learned haha!) • @William Joy • @Billie Addy • @Kevin MacLean • @Lauren Bacotti •

Have you ever noticed how much energy goes into wanting things to change? The mind pushes, resists, or wrestles… and it leaves us tired. A sankalpa is different. It isn’t about pushing. It’s about planting, like placing a seed in fertile soil and trusting the rhythm of nature to unfold in its own time. If your heart could whisper one sentence right now, just one seed of truth, what would it say? If you feel comfortable, SHARE it here. When spoken into a community, our intentions often take deeper root.

Today was an emotional day for me. I’ve carried the image of the phoenix in my heart for a long time… and today, it finally became part of me. This tattoo felt like a rite of passage. I EARNED it. The phoenix is a powerful symbol of resilience to me. It’s a reminder that no matter how many times life burns us to ash, we rise… we persevere. We come out the other side scarred and forever changed, but stronger. Yoga Nidra was one of the tools that helped me come home to myself again… breath by breath, practice by practice. I’m beyond grateful for this community and all the inner space we’ve held together. This ink carries all of that forward. 🙌✨🖤