Stephanie Draus, ND, RYT-500, is a naturopathic physician, yoga teacher, and somatic practitioner living and practicing in Mystic, Connecticut. She holds a 500-hour teaching certificate in Embodyoga, and is certified in MYT (yoga for veterans with PTSD), and Yoga for Osteoporosis. She is a certified Daring to Rest Facilitator, and a certified Grief Movement Guide. She is also a certified Laughter Yoga Leader, trained by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga International.

She has been practicing yoga for almost 40 years, and regularly prescribes yoga asana (postures) as well as Yoga Nidra to her patients.

She teaches Yoga Nidra online and teaches a variety of yoga workshops throughout the year. Find her current schedule here.

She is also a Somatic EMDR and Somatic Stress Release practitioner and holds a certificate in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy from The Embody Lab.

She believes deeply that yoga and rest can be a force for deep change, in the individual and in society.

Photo by Terrence Irving.

Yoga nidra is a guided rest practice. With roots in yogic philosophy, modern yoga nidra practices offer an experience of relaxation and depth.

Nidra is a gentle way to encounter your deepest self, with no yoga experience–and no complicated postures–required.

Yoga nidra has been researched for its benefits for insomnia, PTSD, and anxiety. You can find academic resources here.

Daring to Rest is a form of deep rest, or yoga nidra, developed by Karen Brody, to help people reclaim rest and access their most authentic and powerful selves. This style of yoga nidra brings us through the three stages of rest, release, and rise, and brings the power of rest back to every moment of our waking lives.