FREE GUIDED YOGA & MEDITATION PRACTICES

You can find free guided meditations, guided yoga nidra practices, and guided yin and slow vinyasa flows from me on my YouTube Channel, @SacredSelfCareWithAllison—all designed to support and enhance your wellbeing—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Below is a recent 30 Minute Yoga Nidra guided practice I created for self-care. Yoga Nidra is one of my favourite ways to connect inwards. It sounds like a guided meditation, but it’s much deeper than that. Yoga Nidra stands for yogic sleep, and the way that this practice is designed is that while you are laying down, you are guided into deep rest through each layer of the self—starting with the body—reaching a point where the body is essentially asleep while the subconscious mind remains aware. It is in this state that we are able to work with positive seeds of intention which help to change negative or intrusive thought and behaviour patterns, as well as soothing the parasympathetic nervous system.

Give it a try: 30 Minute Yoga Nidra for Self-Care

MY YOGA JOURNEY

I began practicing yoga as many did by giving hot yoga a try—sweating profusely— and then powering through many more sessions because it was supposed to be a great workout. Later, after dealing with undiagnosed mono, chronic sinus infections, and a fatigue that didn’t leave my body for two years, I discovered restorative yoga and resonated with the way it helped me to regain an appreciation for my body and to cultivate greater inner peace.

In my personal practice yoga has helped me to deepen my connection to my innermost self and has guided me in discovering a more loving, healthy relationship with my body, something I—as most women of my generation—have struggled with since teenage years.

Although I have been practicing yoga for over 20 years, in the last few years I felt called to become certified as an instructor. I have my RYT 200 designation and will be working towards my RYT 500 this year. I’m also Yoga Alliance certified in yin yoga, which is my preferred style of teaching, as well as being a Certified Yoga Nidra Teacher.

While many come to yoga for a more vigorous experience as a form of exercise, I have found that my place in the world is to teach a slower practice in order to use yoga as a modality for calming the nervous system, stretching out overused and exhausted muscles and connective tissues, and going deeply inward.

I am available for personal instruction at homes for individuals and small groups. If you’re interested in having yoga be part of a baby shower, bridal shower, or any other kind of private event, this is my jam! Please email me at allison.mcdonald.ace@gmail.com to chat about how I can support you.