Redefining Rest for Women Who Lead | Yoga Nidra & Nervous System Balance

Redefining Rest for Women

When I look back on childhood, rest wasn’t something we scheduled. It was simply there — quietly woven into the rhythm of our days.

Some of us napped. Some of us never could. My mother, who said she couldn’t sleep during the day, found her version of rest sitting in the sun with her feet in the grass or leaning into the horizon at the beach. My father could sink into a midday nap and wake with soft eyes, gazing out the kitchen window in that faraway alpha state — watching trees sway and birds move in and out, time itself unhurried.

My grandfather rocked on the porch, feeding birds and listening to the wind. My aunts braided hair in the backyard or floated down rivers. My sister and I? We were the nap-lovers, curling into cozy afternoons and sprawled-out daydreams, our shared stillness its own secret language.

The common thread was nature. Sunlight, water, grass, birdsong — all teaching us what it meant to pause, to belong, to attune.

Stillness didn’t mean nothing was happening. Stillness meant life was moving through us in subtle, unseen ways.

A Different Rest Today

Now, in a world of constant scrolls and screens, rest looks different. “Downtime” often defaults to devices. Yet screens don’t balance the nervous system. They don’t offer the body the subtle movement of breath or the deep regulation of presence.

True rest — the kind that nourishes — still comes from connection, nature, and awareness. From pausing long enough to notice what is alive inside and around us. From choosing a practice that supports nervous system balance and allows stillness to do the work for us.

Why I Begin with Women

I begin with women because one woman’s rest is never just her own.
One leader. One mother. One creator. One entrepreneur.

When a woman’s system comes back into balance, her presence ripples outward. Children, partners, colleagues, even strangers feel it. One woman’s authenticity can soften an entire room — or an entire Zoom.

This is why redefining rest matters. For women who lead and nurture, rest is not a luxury. It is strategy. It is leadership. It is a lifestyle, and it is our birthright.

The Role of Yoga Nidra

This is where Yoga Nidra lives.

Yoga Nidra is not about effort. It’s not another thing to check off your list. It is an experience of presence — awareness and focused attention while resting deeply.

It might appear that nothing is happening. Yet, on a subtle level, everything is happening. The body is recalibrating. The nervous system is balancing. The mind is unwinding.

Science shows that Yoga Nidra guides the brain into the same states that restore the body during deep sleep — alpha and theta rhythms where stress dissolves, creativity blooms, and the whole system attunes to harmony

Yoga Nidra and Anxiety/Stress (Systematic Review, 2022).

Stillness is not empty.

Stillness is movement at the most subtle level. Stillness does the work for you.

For women who lead and nurture, this is more than self-care. Yoga Nidra is nervous system tending and a leadership strategy — one that allows you to show up clear, calm, and authentic without burning out. Want to explore what rest could mean for you?

Get deep rest in your inbox and join a community that’s redefining what it means to lead and nurture.

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Hey, Look: A Kairos Moment at Killam’s Point Ecstatic Dance in Connecticut

At Killam’s Point in Connecticut, during a shoreline ecstatic dance with DJ Flavya, rhythms carried us on a journey of presence and feeling. the vibrations seemed to slow time itself, weaving us into a collective flow that held both stillness and movement.

I found myself in a Kairos moment like this by the rest tent — where movement, music, and community wove together into something unforgettable.

Some moments in life arrive like lightning bolts — clear, powerful, unforgettable. Others arrive like whispers, slow and spacious, carrying the kind of meaning you only notice when you pause long enough to feel it.

This is the story of one of those moments.

A few weeks ago, I invited my bestie, Missy, to join me at the Ecstatic Dance at Killam’s Point. I knew she’d be into it — and I was so excited when she said yes.

What I didn’t expect was the way she showed up. Not only did she come ready to move, she also brought gifts for the community — items to make the “rest tent” feel more like a sanctuary. I thought she might bring a few blankets. Instead, she pulled up with a carload of vibes and even two helpers to set it all up. She gave generously, with that steady, crafty energy she carries, and before I knew it, the tent was transformed.

Later that day, something happened that I’ll never forget.

We were moving freely together barefoot on the “dance floor" when time suddenly seemed to slow down. Missy turned to me, motioned toward the tent, and said simply:

“Hey, look.”

I followed her gaze thinking there was something wrong— and saw what she meant after witnessing: people resting, wrapped in the beauty we provided. The music of dj flavya, the movement, the stillness — it all felt suspended, like a Kairos moment. Not the clock kind of time, but the sacred time, where everything lines up and you know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

It struck me that this was more than just a tent, or an ecstatic dance, or a single day. It was a manifestation of both of our personal healing journeys — the passions, the joys, the creativity we each carry. The dance, the music, the design, the beauty, the rest.

And beyond the blankets and the helpers and the transformation of the tent, Missy gave me something even more valuable — her unwavering presence. The support of a friend who truly gets you is invaluable. Her uplifting humor, her loving compassion, and the way she brings me back to my truth are gifts I’ll never take for granted.

This moment reminded me that leadership doesn’t always look like standing at the front of the room.

Sometimes it looks like serendipitous collaboration, like friendship, like generosity. Sometimes it looks like saying “hey, look” and helping someone see what’s possible.

Amy and Missy at the Rest Tent, Killam’s Point Ecstatic Dance in Connecticut

This is why I keep showing up for rest and community.

Because when we bring our gifts together — beauty, movement, music, rest — we create something bigger than ourselves. Something unforgettable.

This is what Nidra Babes is about:

nourishing those Kairos moments where we remember that together, we are whole. Events like REST Fest continue this vision — read more about it here.

Moments like this remind me that dance, rest and community go hand in hand — and that’s exactly what we’re creating with the Nidra Babes community.

A Letter of Reverence: Rest, Mentorship, and the Birth of Nidra Babes

There are people who shape your life so deeply words never seem quite enough.

This is a letter of reverence for one of those people: Scott Moore—poet, jazz lover, Yoga Nidra teacher, and heart-led mentor. Scott didn’t just teach me how to rest. He held space for me to become. To unravel. To rebuild. To create something extraordinary from the raw material of my own authenticity.

When I joined his mentorship program

I was a woman on the edge of massive transition. I had ideas—lots of them—and also doubts. I worried about being too much. Too emotional. Too nonlinear. Too sensitive. Too "off-task." But Scott? He never flinched.

Instead, he welcomed all of me. Every session felt like a nourishing exhale. His presence wasn’t performative—it was permission-giving. He didn’t coach from a pedestal. He mentored from beside me. Gently. Steadily. With unwavering belief in my gifts. He saw my “mad skills,” as he put it. He made me feel celebrated, not just tolerated.

And somehow, he made business strategy feel sacred.

Every recap email he sent after our sessions? Not your average follow-up. They read like poetic jam sessions—filled with insights, encouragement, humor, and clarity. Honestly, they were like sacred scrolls.

Scott Moore didn’t give me confidence. He gave me something better: a mirror. A reminder. A remembering. The gift of seeing myself clearly—unfiltered, real, whole. And that changed everything.

There are some experiences that shift the entire trajectory of your life—not through force or formulas, but through presence. Through poetry. Through being seen.

Working one-on-one with Scott Moore was one of those experiences.

It wasn’t a business coaching program. It was a portal—into expansion, authenticity, and ease. A sacred container for who I was becoming. And a mirror for the self I hadn’t yet fully met.

Scott isn’t simply a mentor. He’s a teacher with soul-deep wisdom. He brings his entire heart into mentorship—his reverence, rhythm, and radical capacity to hold space without agenda.

One of the things Scott says often is: “everything is yes and everything is love.”

And he lives it.

Every emotion I brought to our sessions—fear, grief, brilliance, joy, doubt, divine downloads—was met with exactly that energy. Yes, and love.

He didn’t fix or redirect me. He invited me to feel into the moment without succumbing to people-pleasing, pressure, or performance. He modeled how to pause without apology.

And just when I thought I was spiraling, he’d deliver a jaw-dropping truth bomb—poetic, precise, and with cosmic humor.

That’s why I call him Mic Drop Scott. Because working with him is a mic drop every time. 

We quickly created a bond built on trust and shared reverence for Yoga Nidra. It was a connection that felt ancient, familiar, and sometimes otherworldly.

His guidance wasn’t just cerebral—it came from a deeper knowing

stirred by presence, that allowed doubt to dissolve and clarity to blossom.

He celebrated my “mad skills” (his words) and never let me forget them—even when I did.

One of the greatest gifts I revisit again and again is what comes after our sessions: The follow-up emails. Not average check-ins, but poetic recaps,

energetic integrations, and loving nudges infused with insight and celebration.

They captured our session’s essence with clarity, humor, and that signature Scott cadence that made the impossible feel inevitable:

They made me feel capable. They reminded me I didn’t have to do it alone. And even when the next steps felt daunting, the message was always: you’ve got this, and I see you.

Those emails alone could’ve been a masterclass in mentorship.

It’s that blend—deep listening, real business strategy, spiritual presence, poetic impact—that makes Scott more than a mentor.

And at one point—(in what I imagined would be our last call) without hesitation or condition—he said:

“You have a biz wingman for life.”

That gift was everything. It wasn’t just the mentorship—it was the certainty I wasn’t walking this path alone. That someone with wisdom, humility, and real tools was in my corner.

That kind of steady belief rewires your nervous system. It reconfigures self-trust. It grounded everything I’ve built since.

In those six months (and beyond, because yes—Scott is my “biz wingman for life”), something else was quietly, powerfully being born:

Nidra Babes. & Lil’ Nidra Babes.

This mentorship journey cracked open a new rhythm in me. A rhythm of rest. Of alignment. Of deeply trusting that what I’m here to do begins with slowing down, not speeding up.

Nidra Babes isn’t simply a business. It’s the embodiment of everything I learned through rest, through witnessing, through the beautiful discomfort of growing in sacred space. It's the invitation I now extend to other women

who lead—moms, CEOs, healers, educators, creators—to pause, recalibrate, and reconnect with their inner knowing.

And Lil’ Nidra Babes? That’s the extension of this sacred rest into the next generation. A playful, heart-centered way to introduce school-aged children to the power of stillness, imagination, and nervous system regulation—through Yoga Nidra audio bundles and Creative Calm fill-in-the-blank stories. (You can find those here, if you’re curious.)

Scott taught me that when you mentor from a place of “everything is yes and everything is love,” you unlock more than potential—you unlock power. Real, gentle, unstoppable power.

He always reminds me that authenticity is the secret sauce—

that showing up as me is the wind in the sails of my business. That simple truth, offered with such reverence, became the foundation for all I now share through Nidra Babes.

So here’s to the people who remind us who we are. Here’s to rest as a strategy. Here’s to choosing alignment over urgency. Here’s to the mentors who don’t just teach us how to build—but how to be.

And if you’ve ever wondered what’s possible when you pause long enough to hear your soul whisper… Come rest with me.

Visit NidraBabes.com—a space born from rest, rooted in authenticity.

And Scott—thank you. For modeling soulful strategy

For honoring emotions as messengers. For proving that mentorship can feel like music.

Thank you for whispering truth in moments I wanted to run. For walking with me through the birth of this vision. And for reminding me that the path of rest, creativity, and authenticity is not just valid—it’s visionary.

— Amy

Top 3 Reasons Why Yoga Nidra is My Favorite Travel Companion

As a highly sensitive person (HSP), I’ve learned that traveling—while exciting—can also be overwhelming. Between the sensory overload, lack of comfort, and the constant go-go-go, it can be easy to feel off balance. That’s why I rely on my Yoga Nidra practice, which has become my favorite travel companion and the key to staying centered, connected, and rejuvenated on the go.

There are many tools I rely on—weighted blankets, earplugs, living water machines, and highly nutritious foods—but let’s be honest, they all require planning, thinking, and extra space in my luggage. What I love about Yoga Nidra is that it’s simple, minimalist, and always available. It's an internal tool that doesn’t require anything extra but your attention and a moment of stillness.

Here are my top three reasons why Yoga Nidra is the shining star of my travel essentials:

1. Travel Light, Connect Big

The beauty of Yoga Nidra is that it’s minimalist and portable—it doesn’t take up space, require extra packing, or involve planning. Unlike other tools that are physical, such as food or a weighted blanket, Yoga Nidra can be accessed with nothing but your phone and a quiet moment.

When I travel, I’m often relying on the Yoga Nidra recordings on my phone. Whether it’s for a quick nap during a layover or a midday recharge, I can drop into a deep state of relaxation wherever I am. It’s the perfect way to travel light while still staying deeply connected to myself and the world around me. Yoga Nidra allows me to tap into source energy without needing external tools. It’s an inner practice that’s always with me, no matter where I go.

2. Deep Nourishment Even When Sleep Deprived

We all know how travel can disrupt our sleep schedule. Between jet lag, unfamiliar environments, and the rush of catching flights, it’s easy to end up sleep-deprived. This is where Yoga Nidra truly shines. In just 20 minutes, Yoga Nidra is equivalent to two hours of deep sleep—and let me tell you, it’s deeply nourishing.

When I don’t get a full night’s sleep, Yoga Nidra helps my body and mind catch up on rest. It’s the perfect solution for feeling restored after a night of tossing and turning. It’s like a mini recharge for my nervous system and mental clarity, without the need for hours of sleep or extra rest.

3. Easy Access to Calm and Balance in Any Situation

Yoga Nidra is the perfect way to stay balanced when the world around you feels chaotic. Whether you’re on a shaking plane, stuck in traffic, or dealing with overstimulating crowds, Yoga Nidra can be your anchor. Unlike other tools, it doesn’t require physical effort or external resources—it’s a practice within you.

By focusing on your breath, and the gentle guidance of a Yoga Nidra recording, you can find a sense of peace and grounding anywhere. For me, it’s the ultimate practice for finding calm and connecting to source energy no matter what’s going on externally. It helps me stay present, reduce stress, and feel deeply connected to the flow of life.

Yoga Nidra: The Ultimate Travel Ally

In a world where travel often means chaos, hustle, and sensory overload, Yoga Nidra is the portable mind-body tool I always have with me (along with my breath). It’s the ultimate travel companion for highly sensitive people like me, offering a way to recharge, stay grounded, and experience peace on the go.

In fact, research shows that Yoga Nidra is a ‘sleep meditation’ proven to bring restorative rest and relaxation—making it especially powerful for travelers needing calm in the chaos.

If you're looking for a way to bring more calm and balance into your life—whether you’re traveling or navigating everyday stress—I invite you to try Yoga Nidra. Download my free Rest Ritual Kit to get started and experience how deep rest can transform your energy and your life.

Beyond the Nap: Yoga Nidra and the Rest Your Body Craves”

Let’s be real: I come from a long line of nappers.

— professional-level nappers, you could say. But me? I was a groggy, grumpy napper.

All I ever wanted was that elusive perfect nap. My sister and I used to joke about it, describing our dream naps like it was some kind of holy grail. And while the idea of it was always appealing, the reality was usually the opposite.

Sure, I can remember one or two short naps that felt refreshing. But most often? The longer I slept, the worse I felt. Those deep-dive naps left me groggy, off-kilter, sometimes even a little sick — completely messing up my circadian rhythm.

This pattern followed me through my teens, twenties, thirties, even into my early forties. I kept chasing the nap I thought would fix everything.

And then I experienced Yoga Nidra.

The record skipped. Everything changed..

Why Naps Don’t Always Work

Naps seemed to be hit or miss for me. Sometimes they left me more tired, or I would end up waking in the middle of a sleep cycle, which left me feeling worse than before. They didn’t always let my body rest as deeply as it needed to, especially since I was dealing with chronic stress, nervous system overload, and emotional burnout.

Now I know why naps often failed me: it comes down to sleep cycles

• Short naps (10–20 minutes): You’re still in the lighter stages of sleep (NREM), so you can wake up feeling refreshed.

• Longer naps (30–60 minutes): You start dipping into slow-wave sleep. If you wake up during this stage, you’re more likely to feel groggy, disoriented, even irritable — what sleep scientists call sleep inertia source.

• Around 90 minutes: That’s a full sleep cycle, including REM. Waking up at the end of a cycle is easier, but it’s not exactly practical to schedule a 90-minute nap in the middle of your day.Here’s the secret: Yoga Nidra is your better option.
  
  

Why Yoga Nidra Works Better Than Napping

Here’s the secret: Yoga Nidra is your better option.

Unlike a nap, Yoga Nidra is a deeply rejuvenating experience that not only relaxes your body, but also recharges your mind and nourishes your soul. And the best part? In simply 20 minutes, it feels like you’ve had 2 hours of deep sleep.

Deep, Restorative Rest Without Falling Asleep

Yoga Nidra takes you into the alpha and theta brainwave states — the sweet spot for rest, creativity, and nervous system reset — without dragging you into deep sleep inertia. Your nervous system gets the chance to reset, release stress, and find balance.

Regulates Your Nervous System

One of the biggest benefits of Yoga Nidra is its ability to lower cortisol and rebalance the nervous system. Research even shows significant stress reduction after a single session. Here’s one example.

Restores Energy and Boosts Creativity

Rest isn’t just about recharging your battery — it’s about resetting your entire mind-body connection. With Yoga Nidra, you enter brain states that support memory consolidation, creativity, and problem solving. It’s the reset your body and mind crave.Ready to Experience the Magic of Yoga Nidra?

At Nidra Babes, we’re rest-obsessed, and we know you are too. It’s time to say goodbye to the nap trap and experience the power of deep rest that actually works.

Come try a Yoga Nidra session with us—no alarms, no grogginess—just pure, restorative relaxation that works for your body and mind.

Final Thoughts: Beyond the Nap

Unlike naps that can leave you foggy, Yoga Nidra leaves you clear, refreshed, and ready to step back into life from a place of presence.

For me, it was the practice that finally gave me the rest I had been craving all my life. It helped me release the grogginess of old habits and step into a rhythm of authenticity, alignment, and ease.

If you’re curious about how Yoga Nidra works or why it matters so much to us at Nidra Babes, you can read more on our About Yoga Nidra page.

And if you’re ready to feel it for yourself? Come rest with us. Join Nidra Babes and discover the power of Yoga Nidra — the rest you deserve.

Why Rest is the Ultimate Secret to Success for Busy Women Who Run Things

As busy women who run things, we often feel like the only way to achieve more is to work harder, longer, and faster. But what if I told you the secret to unlocking your greatest potential lies in doing less—specifically, resting more?

I know it sounds counterintuitive. But I want to introduce you to something revolutionary: Rest First.

Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a strategic superpower that powers your productivity, creativity, and longevity. By focusing on rest first thing in the morning, you can align your mind, body, and energy with the flow of time—creating a space where you can work smarter, not harder.

This philosophy is at the heart of Rest Fest, an event designed to help you pause, reset, and unlock your potential. It’s about embracing Kairos Time, the perfect moment to recharge and renew—without the guilt.

When you make rest a non-negotiable part of your routine, you tap into the flow state—that magical place where your creativity and productivity skyrocket. And through Nidra Babes, a community that encourages deep rest and rejuvenation, you’ll learn how to integrate this powerful practice into your daily life.

Are you ready to embrace the superpower of rest? Join us at Rest Fest and let’s make magic happen together. Your best self is waiting.

How 20 Minutes of Yoga Nidra Can Rejuvenate You (And Help You Build the Business of Your Dreams!)

Hey beautiful soul,

If you're constantly running on empty—whether you're a busy mom, entrepreneur, or woman who nurtures others—you’re likely feeling depleted or disconnected.

for years, i burned the candle at both ends, was in chronic pain and in a near constant state of dis-ease. my physical body was screaming out for attention and I didn’t have any bandwidth for a spiritual connection. for me, the secret to healing, creativity, and innovation didn’t come from working harder, but from resting. Sounds too good to be true, right? trust me, I’ve experienced it firsthand.

When I began prioritizing rest and shifted my morning routine to include Yoga Nidra, I felt a massive shift in my life. Yoga Nidra isn’t simply a relaxing meditation—it’s a game changer and affords a direct connection to source energy. I’m here to tell you how 20 minutes of rest each morning can actually rejuvenate your energy and boost your creativity.

Let’s dive into how I recreated my business (and how you can, too) using the power of rest.

Step 1: Stretch in Bed and Connect with My Heart

I don’t jump out of bed and rush into my day. Instead, I start with a gentle stretch. Hugging my knees to my chest and doing a quick twist to open my back. I take a deep breath and connect with my heart. This simple act of self-love sets the tone for my day.

Tip: Starting your day with love and connection reduces stress and helps you feel grounded for the day ahead.

Step 2: Hydrate & Meet Immediate Needs

After stretching, I take care of myself. I open the sliding door to let the sunlight in, rinse my face with cold water, and hydrate with Electrolyzed Reduced Water (ERW). It’s the perfect way to recharge and nourish my body.

Tip: Staying hydrated with ERW supports your body’s natural ability to release toxins, giving you more clarity and energy.

Step 3: Activate Your Energy with Movement

Next, I move my body—whether through yoga, dance, or a simple walk. Squeezing my muscles helps release the hope molecule—this acts like a natural energy booster, giving me the calm energy I need to take on the day.

Tip: Gentle movement can help activate your body's natural energy flow without burning you out. Plus, it’s a great way to start your day with intention.

Step 4: Return to Bed for Deep Rest: Yoga Nidra

I get back into bed for Yoga Nidra, also known as sleep yoga. This practice helps me slip into a high alpha, low theta brainwave state, where I can release stress, reprogram my mindset, and set powerful intentions for the day ahead.

Yoga Nidra puts me into an innovator state of mind—perfect for getting creative, solving problems, and boosting my productivity. It’s the perfect time to write in my dream book or relax into a workflow state.

Tip: Just 20 minutes of Yoga Nidra is as rejuvenating as 2 hours of deep sleep—science-backed and proven to help you reduce stress and boost creativity.

Why This Routine Works: The Power of Rest

This routine is designed to help me reclaim my energy and tap into my inner power. Yoga Nidra isn’t just about lying down. It’s about activating your body's ability to heal, rejuvenate, and align with your highest potential.

Studies show that Yoga Nidra lowers cortisol levels, enhances emotional regulation, and improves sleep—all of which are critical for reducing stress and increasing productivity.

How This Routine Transformed My Business

When I stopped focusing on the hustle and started prioritizing rest—specifically through Yoga Nidra—my creativity skyrocketed. I was able to access deeper levels of clarity and productivity, and my business grew in ways I never imagined.

Tip: Rest isn’t just a luxury—it’s a strategy. By taking time to rest, I can show up for my work, my family, and myself in a more aligned and energetic way.

Why You Should Try Yoga Nidra for Yourself

If you’re still wondering, “Can I really get this level of rest in just 20 minutes?”—the answer is YES. Yoga Nidra is scientifically proven to reset your nervous system, release stress, and leave you with lasting, calm energy. It’s time to stop the hustle and start prioritizing rest so you can show up as your best self.

Want to experience it for yourself?
Join me for a Yoga Nidra session and experience the transformation of moving from exhaustion to rejuvenation. Let rest be your secret weapon to success.

Ready to Reclaim Your Rest?

If you’re rest curious and ready to tap into more creativity, calm energy, and authenticity, Join Nidra Babes and experience the transformative power of Yoga Nidra today.