A few years before my diagnosis, my partner who is now my husband, encouraged me to try a form of meditation I had never heard of: Yoga Nidra. After trying it for the first time, I noticed a boost of energy after a short ten-minute practice. It became a useful tool for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

Fast forward to my aggressive breast cancer diagnosis at age 35. Treatment lasted a year and a half. It was effective, but hellish. Today I stand with no evidence of disease, but going through treatment was the most dehumanizing and painful experience of my life.

Yoga Nidra was no longer an afternoon energy boost. It became the lifeline that carried me to the end of each day. This is when the practice took root as something deeper, and when I began to understand the power of the the heart’s intention sankalpa as a tool of healing. "I am safe. I am healed" became my daily meditation, a seed planted in warm soil.

A year into treatment, several people spoke to me of a place I had never heard of: Kripalu. I took that as my sign to go. It was there that I first experienced Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra with Jennifer Reis, and it was a soothing balm to my soul.

When she mentioned that she offered teacher training, I knew this was my opportunity not only to deepen my own practice, but to share this healing practice with others impacted by cancer. I could not wait!

Jennifer is a clear, insightful, and responsive teacher. She explained every detail with clarity, encouraged hands-on practice, and created a space of warmth where we could truly explore and learn. As someone with a Master's in Education, I was blown away by the quality of her manual and scripts. The care and attention to detail is palpable. 

The Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra training was so comprehensive that I led my first group Yoga Nidra with 50 participants (all diagnosed with breast and/or gynecological cancer) at Camp Breastie within a week of completing the course.

People were in tears, sharing how transformative the experience was for them. It has been an honor to weave this practice into my business, Thrive Beyond Coaching, offering Yoga Nidra and wellness coaching to those impacted by cancer.

I lead Yoga Nidra offerings in the Boston area and plan to expand virtual options to share this healing practice with as many people as possible. I feel grateful to be empowered, and certified, to do this meaningful work.

Today, I continue to practice Yoga Nidra just about daily, anywhere from 10-30 minutes. It continues to give me a boost of energy to get through the day, as well as provide deep, spiritual rooting.