Daring to Rest: Reclaim Your Power with Yoga Nidra Rest Meditation

by Karen Brody

What if you could reboot your health, tap into your creative self, reclaim your wild nature, lead from your heart—and still feel well rested?

As modern women, we’re taught that we can do it all, have it all, and be it all. While this freedom is beautiful, it’s also exhausting. Being a “worn-out woman” is now so common that we think feeling tired all the time is normal. According to Karen Brody, feeling this exhausted is not normal—and it’s holding us back. In Daring to Rest, Brody comes to the rescue with a 40-day program to help you reclaim rest and access your most powerful, authentic self through yoga nidra, a meditative practice that guides you into one of the deepest states of relaxation imaginable.

It’s time to lie down and begin the journey to waking up

Though it comes from the yogic tradition, yoga nidra doesn’t look like a typical yoga class—the entire practice is done lying down. As you listen to a guided meditation, you’re gently taken into complete inner stillness, effortlessly releasing into a healing state that works on both cellular and subtle body levels.

With Daring to Rest, Brody presents a comprehensive yoga nidra program that unfolds in three rest for physical exhaustion, release for mental and emotional exhaustion, and rise for tuning in to the “life purpose exhaustion” that can come when we’re not in our full power. Each phase includes a downloadable yoga nidra guided meditation and supportive practices.

“By directly accessing your subconscious mind, yoga nidra helps shift the long-held patterns that prevent you from stepping fully into your purpose and power,” writes Brody. “Now is the time to break the cycle of fatigue and return to your truest self—the woman you are when you’re not constantly exhausted.”

Genres: Self Help, Health, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Womens, Unfinished

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2017

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the final stretch of the 40 day program outlined in this book. Overall, it's a well thought out, well taught program. Each week you read a chapter (so finishing the book is a very do-able proposition) and the recordings are easy to access and digest. There is a heavy focus on women for this program, so if you're a man this book/program may not be for you. Also I'm still not sure there's any difference between "yoga nidra" and "meditation," but perhaps that doesn't matter. Jury's still out on if it changed my life, but at the very least it jazzed up my meditation practice for a few weeks.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing of Yoga Nidra before I read this book, but when a book promises to help you improve your rest and to help you STAY rested, it's hard to resist.

This book goes right from the very basics, explaining the roots of Yoga Nidra, as well as giving personal anecdotes of how she (the author) has incorporated Yoga Nidra into her life, as well as others that she has advised. It's easy to see that this is in fact a life change and something which needs to be made time for regularly for it to work to its full potential.

There are plenty of tips for how to make time to incorporate this practice into your routine, the equipment you need (the good news it it's just yourself and some audio!), and how to make the routine stick. Brody also provides some mp3 audio tracks to get started with Yoga Nidra, as well as the transcripts for these audio tracks so you can record them yourself should you wish (that being said though, how many people would find it truly relaxing listening to their own voice!). All in all, this is a brilliant book for newbies to the practice of Yoga Nidra and one I'd highly recommend.

(Thanks to NetGalley for this copy).

[Anna-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started reading for a second time after dropping out on day 17 previously.

I think the sexual assault story needs stronger warning. Not sure it was the best choice of story for this kind of course.

Feeling overall better, more grounded and very proud to have completed this successfully 💪

[Summer Bock, Holistic Nutrition & Herbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life. I’ve spent my life being driven and motivated and full of energy. I became ill for almost two years until I finally got a proper diagnosis and treatment. During that time I was exhausted beyond comprehension. I read this book in one day and bought her course. This book taught me the value of being a “well-rested woman.” This was a difficult transition as I derived my sense of value previously from how much more I could accomplish each day than everyone else.

I recommend this book to many of my clients who struggle with digestive problems because activating the parasympathetic response, as outlined by her exercises in this book, is a big needle-mover for restoring good gut function.

Overall, if you are stressed-out or highly driven/Type A personality, this book has much-needed gems to restore your energy reserves.

When I can’t sleep, I listen to the yoga nidra recordings by Karen Brody and enjoy the practices laid out in this book.

This book is more of a how-to/educational book. I enjoyed the content so much that I didn’t pay any attention to the style it was written in. But I did get the impression that she was speaking conversationally to me.

[Angela Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello all! I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first that I've heard of yoga nidra, Count me in for this meditative practice which is going to bring me to a state of better rest and to getting in touch with my spirituality.

The basics of this meditation make it difficult to resist. You don't even have to sit for this meditation. You get to lie on the floor, covered by a blanket! While lying on the floor that you listen to meditative tracks, which you can download.

There are three phases: rest, release, and rise. These are covered in more detail throughout the end of the book, and they constitute a 40 day journey as you learn more of the phases. I really liked that this book allows you to Chuck the Perfect and to give yourself lenience as you practice through 40 days.

This book is perfect for tracking in a bullet journal or for 2018 resolutions!

[Melanie Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Brody is on to something amazing. Her process, using Yoga Nidra to introduce one to their true self, is nothing short of revolutionary. Her book is easy to follow, and accessible. The approach easy to incorporate into an already too busy life. I heard about this book after listening to Brody be interviewed by Tami Simon from Sounds True. I was hooked when she said "woman find their inner wild". We need more wilderness in this world don't we? I'm just doing my part, by cultivating wild spaces within me. This work is a joy. I recommend it to everyone. It is tailored for women, which is awesome. Men, could totally do it too, they would just have to change a bit of the language (like we've been doing for ages and ages). So many sweet surprises. So many rich moments. This book is a true gift

[Benjamin Bookman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me, despite my best efforts. I downloaded the meditations, kept the journal, and really tried to follow the program. But I found that it actually made me far leas rested, and I just wasn’t drawn in enough to keep going. Honestly, the biggest problem for me was the intense focus on Women. The description and title make no mention of the fact that this is very very woman focused, which turned me off from what otherwise might have been more enjoyable and meaningful. I did pass the book on to others and may return to it some day in the future, but it wasn’t right for me at this moment.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karen Brody has separated yoga nidra into its own entity which I believe can be useful for many people who wouldn’t consider stepping into a yoga studio for whatever reason.
Women are exhausted and overextended, and anything that can address that is useful.
There are a lot of extraneous suggestions~ touchstones, soul whispers, free writing~ that can distract from simply practicing yoga nidra. I would have also liked Brody to offer suggestions for ways to deepen yoga nidra practice, this book is just a starter.

[Avni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed a number of Karen's Brody's online summits using yoga nidra. Her book is bold in its promise and I concur with the message- in these busy times we need to surrender to deep rest and all of the nuggets it offers. This book is clear about the philosophy of rest as well as practical to help the reader create space for this practice.

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book to do, not just to read. (although there is very good information contained in the chapters as well). I worked my way through the 40 days with both the good and an online course which was, for me, ideal (I'm not always terribly self-motivated with these things). It's a good practice and one I'll incorporate into my regular practice, although likely not (for now) on a daily basis.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish either the book or the program. Apparently meditation is not for me. Neither is this book. It's targeted at women only (men and NB need not apply), and defines woman-hood as either being a boss-woman or a mother, or both.

I got more from doing a 15 minute lay down while listening to theta waves on Youtube.

[Terrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has changed my life. I've been doing the meditations for two months now, and I can't say enough in praise of it. I feel more rested, more grounded, and much more centered and clear. The book is extremely helpful in guiding you through what you are experiencing. If you want to feel like yourself again, I highly recommend trying Yoga Nidra.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I was already meditating every morning, the transition to Yoga Nidra was easy, especially since Karen Brody's audio recording was easy to download from SoundsTrue.com, and brought to me much needed rest. After the rest, the meditations guided me to develop my intuition and energy further. After finishing the 40 day program, I'm really happy with the results.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked many parts of it. I was happy to agree with a lot of the importance of resting, meditating, and holding opposites for balance. There was plenty that... well I don't believe in, but I'm glad work for other people.

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this after taking a yoga nidra training or a yoga teacher mentioned to me. I tried reading this, but it failed to pull me in. During the pandemic, I started using Insight Timer, and I now have access to Calm through my job. If this becomes cheaper on Kindle, I'd buy that version.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful in giving you ways to meditate if you are having issues with it.

[Linske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heel erg veel aan gehad, vooral aan de yoga Nidra sessies die erbij horen. Aanrader voor wie vaak heel erg moe is en moeite heeft om dan tijd voor zichzelf te nemen. Kantelpunt in mijn vermoeidheid

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Permission to rest with yoga Nidra is revolutionary! Enjoyed the 40 day program and the meditations are mine to keep now!

[Stacy Sevier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different type of meditation than what usually comes to mind. Access to online guided meditations included.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was ok. I've already been practicing this style of meditation. Thought the experiences of other practitioners was interesting to hear.

[Amber Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how clearly written and accessible this book is. This book encourages you with yoga nidra pom pompoms to practice.
I have been practicing the meditations and find them very helpful for my day to day life.
Finding both balance and healing.
No doubt when I am ready I will do the 40 day program. Until then this book is so inspiring for me to read mostly because I am tired on so many levels.
Also the podcasts Karen Brody has put together are insightful around femininity and concerns of women worldwide.
http://daringtorest.com/podcast/2018/...