Integrative Restoration, or iREST for short, is a guided meditation practice that integrates the Eastern tradition of Yoga Nidra and the Western principles of positive psychology and wellness. iREST guides the practitioner on an inner journey, providing a deeply restorative and nourishing experience.
iREST is an excellent complement to therapy. It can be used in preparation for therapeutic work, during treatment, or as part of a plan for self care and maintenance following treatment.
iREST has been thoroughly researched and carefully developed to be effective at lowering overall stress, lowering symptoms related to Acute Stress and Post Traumatic Stress, and cultivating an authentic sense of wholeness and well being in the practitioner. It has been studied as an effective intervention for treatment-resistant PTSD, depression, anxiety and other stress-related disorders.
There’s nothing you need to do to prepare for an iREST session. It is best if you haven’t eaten a large meal just prior to practice and to come in clothes that are comfortable for sitting or lying down. Between class based iREST sessions, you may elect to listen to guided iREST meditations to continue to benefit from the practice. This is entirely optional, however.
A group iREST session involves a brief introduction or teaching by the facilitator and possibly an invitation for participants to share ideas that may support their practice that day. The guided portion of iREST begins with an inner setting of intention, connecting to a sense of well being and identifying an inner desire, also known as a Sankalpa. Some practitioners may already having a connection to these ideas while others are less experienced and still cultivating them. That is ok; wherever you are with the practice is perfect. Following intention setting, we move to body-sensing, beginning with the head and working downward. This practice can feel very relaxing as we wind our way through the body, letting go a little more each new place we arrive.
There are no requirements in iREST. Practitioners can follow along or they can choose to just lie down and ‘let go’, ignoring the guided relaxation. Above all, the practice belongs to each individual and you will get out of it what you need.
Generally, the guided relaxation portion of class is 20 to 30 minutes to ensure practitioners don’t enter into a deeper state of sleep that is difficult to awaken from. Some classes, such as those in the evening or weekends, may involve gentle movement and Hatha Yoga to prepare for relaxation. Other classes, such as those in the early morning, will be focused solely on the guided relaxation portion.
For more information about iREST, please visit the official site, https://www.irest.org .
Go here to register for an iREST class in advance.
Copyright © 2018 Gretchen Mallios, LCSW, RYT - All Rights Reserved.
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