The Radical Act of Rest

Have you ever had difficulty sleeping? Lying awake with monkey mind, thoughts running wild, replaying the day you had or planning the next one? Troubled with anxiety, worry, stress, or simply unable to drop into deep sleep? Watching the clock turn 23:00, then 01:15, then 3:07 and by 4:45 you give up and just make a coffee to get through the morning.

Enter Yoga Nidra.

Or maybe you fall asleep really easy and fast, but tend to wake up in the middle of the night. Getting up at stupid o’clock to go to the bathroom, drink some water…and then lie awake for hours unable to drop back to dreamland.

Enter Yoga Nidra.

Or maybe you sleep well at night but feel tense and tight throughout the day. You just can’t seem to relax and ease into the flow of life. Your to-do list feels overwhelming and the only way to switch off at the end of the day is to watch mind-numbing TV or find distraction on social media. But really you would prefer a gentle way to connect to yourself instead of numbing or distracting.

Enter Yoga Nidra.

We could go on with possible scenarios, because really this practice is for anyone. We all experience worry and tension. We all have trouble sleeping sometimes. There is an epidemic of stress and exhaustion that has creeped in with our hectic modern lifestyle. An estimated 1 in 3 adults suffers from insomnia worldwide. And statistics are even higher for stress affecting daily life. Many of us need a little help relaxing.

Enter Yoga Nidra.

Yoga Nidra is a deeply restful, rejuvenating and healing practice that helps to reduce anxiety, improve cognition and support restful sleep. It is a radical act of rest, also known as “yogic sleep” or “sleep that is yoga”. It is an effortless state of deep restful being. Practiced lying down, it is a meditation on the threshold of falling asleep, a conscious moment to rest and nourish every layer of yourself. In our experience, it is the deepest restorative practice. As new parents, yoga nidra is helping us cope with sleep deprivation and post-partum insomnia.

For me, it has become a daily self-care practice. Some particularly awake nights with hourly wake up calls from our baby girl, I have even listened to a guided yoga nidra three or four times. Even though I wasn’t getting much actual sleep, this form of yogic sleep still gave me a sense of resting. As my body is guided into deep relaxation my consciousness can surf between states of wakefulness and sleep. And if left to drift, I often drop into sleep. During the day it gives me the opportunity to recharge, like taking a super-powered cat nap. Some days I feel like it’s saved my sanity!

For Tim, receiving yoga nidra is an opportunity to fully surrender.  Surrender the impulse to “do” or “complete” anything, surrender the impulse to present a “form” or “persona” to the outside world, and surrender the need to protect “immediate space” from the outside world, and to be fully held by the guide, as we once did in circles around camp fires.  Tim is deeply inspired by the weaving of the anatomical with the koshas with the elements (all 3 are one in the same) and the craft of Uma Dinsmore Tuli and the Yoga Nidra Network.

Like drinking water and breathing, sleep is a core human need and necessity for being alive. Sleep is so important, and to suffer from sleeplessness for an extended period of time can feel like torture. Affecting all aspects of life: moods, emotions, relationships, energy, focus, motivation, memory. Yoga Nidra is an invitation to enter a state of harmonious, restful being that mimics sleep. It actually follows the brain’s cyclical process of falling asleep. This is why it is such a supportive practice to restore healthy sleep cycles and recover from insomnia.

In their book Yoga Made Easy, Uma Dinsmore-Tuli & Nirlipta Tuli explain this in detail:

 “All the brain-wave states that arise on the journey into sleep, and during sleep itself, are present in yoga nidra, which is why it feels so relaxing. Experiences of these different states of consciousness can be identified by the presence of different amplitudes of electrical activity in the brain, and all these different brain-wave states (beta, alpha, theta, and delta waves) are detectable during the practice of yoga nidra.”

As one of the world’s leading Yoga Nidra experts and the creator of the Yoga Nidra Network, we are very excited to have Uma as a guest teacher at Tara Nature Retreat this summer! From August 16-25 Uma and Tim will be guiding a 60hr Yoga Nidra Facilitator course.

If you feel to dive deeper into the art of yogic sleep, learn more about this special training here.

Recognising the radical power of rest can become a turning point and transform your life. Embracing rest isn’t just about pausing; it’s about reclaiming our energy, creativity, and wellbeing. It’s about setting boundaries on our time and energy, prioritizing our self-care. It is a profound act of self-love. It is resistance against a modern lifestyle message that tells us busyness and productivity equal worth and value. It is a loving form of empowerment that only has benefits. Rest allows us to reconnect with our true selves, align with our natural rhythms, and show up more fully in life.

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Caroline Willebois is a seasoned yoga teacher, holistic health coach, author, and retreat creator with a lifelong connection to nature and wellbeing. She discovered yoga at 19 during her global travels and deepened her practice into a heartfelt calling that supports transformation and self-discovery. Caroline is a certified 500-hour Elemental Yoga Teacher & Yoga Therapist, and over the past decade she has led numerous yoga and wellness retreats in Italy and Bali. She has written three books — This Is For You, Nature’s Calling, and the seasonal cookbook Nourish — reflecting her passion for nourishing the body, mind, and spirit through mindful living and wholesome food. Growing up in East Africa instilled in her a profound respect for Mother Nature, which now informs every retreat experience she curates at Tara Nature Retreat.

Timothy Patey is Co-Founder of Tara Nature Retreat and a guiding presence in its transformative, nature-based experiences. His personal journey of self-exploration began with a formative pilgrimage through India in 2003, leading him into decades of study across yogic, shamanic, and Buddhist traditions. Timothy holds over 500 hours of training in Hatha Yoga and Yoga Nidra and blends these practices with psychology, non-violent communication, and mindfulness in his teaching and facilitation. With a PhD in the natural sciences and a love for ecstatic dance, philosophical conversation, and community connection, Timothy brings depth, curiosity, and warmth to every retreat he co-creates.

Together, Caroline and Timothy are the heart and soul of Tara Nature Retreat, a serene yoga and wellness sanctuary nestled in the oak forests of Umbria, Italy — just 90 minutes from Rome and close to the historic town of Todi. Tara Nature Retreat offers a range of immersive experiences, from yoga retreats to women’s retreats and holistic wellness weeks designed to balance body, mind, and spirit in a supportive, nature-rich environment. The retreat centre is crafted as a home where guests can slow down, reconnect with themselves and others, and rediscover harmony through movement, mindfulness, nourishing seasonal food, and the healing rhythms of nature.

In addition to hosting their own curated experiences, Tara Nature Retreat is available for venue rental to teachers, facilitators, and organisers seeking a beautiful, fully-equipped setting for yoga, dance, wellness, or creative retreats. With indoor and outdoor yoga spaces, comfortable accommodation, organic cuisine support, and the breathtaking backdrop of the Umbrian countryside, it’s an ideal location to bring your own retreat vision to life.