How Yoga Helps Us Become Integrated Human Beings with Richard Miller Ep. 06

On today’s show I talk with Richard Miller. 

Richard is a world-renowned spiritual teacher, author, yogic scholar, researcher and clinical psychologist. He is best known for developing iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation, which combines traditional yogic practice with Western psychology and neuroscience. He is committed to bringing the healing benefits of iRest to all segments of our population including wounded warriors, people with cancer, MS, and the homeless among many other populations. 

In addition to founding the iRest Institute Richard was also the co-founder of The International Association of Yoga Therapy and founding editor of the professional Journal of IAYT. 

I met Richard way back in 2014, when I was lucky enough to attend a workshop with him in Sydney. Each time that I interact with Richard, both in person, and even after this interview, I was left with a profound and overwhelming gratitude for how kind, compassionate and good he is. I actually cried tears of relief both times. Which, if you know me, is a pretty big deal. 

Richard is such an incredible role model for me personally, and I think he sheds some interesting light on a career in yoga that spans over 5 decades. 

We discuss:

• Richard origin story with yoga
• Richards definition of Yoga Nidra
• How Richard supported his family with his career path
• Why Richard calls his method iRest
• Richards advice on teaching yoga outside of the yoga studio 
• Richards method of creating special interest groups
• Balancing what your students want, with what you think they need
• The mechanisms behind the practice of yoga nidra
• The default network in the brain & how yoga can help us move into the present centered network.
• The fight-flight-freeze-collapse response
• How yoga / meditation can help us rewire our brains
• iRest / Yoga Nidra’s effects on PTSD
• How iRest doesn’t want to fix, or change who you are, but instead become exactly who you are
• Yoga that helps you become a functional human being in the world
• Learning the skills for being human
• The research behind iRest
• Looking for what is right within you
• Building an inner resource
• Teaching in “non-yoga” settings
• Merging your passion in yoga, with the need to make a living in business
• Why trusting your feelings is a business strategy
• Making tough decisions based on what feels right, even if it doesn’t feel good

I hope you enjoy the show

FIND RICHARD

• iRest Website
• iRest Trainings & Retreats
• iRest Instagram
• Richard’s Instagram
• iRest Facebook Page

FIND CORA

• Cora's Website
• Cora's Instagram
• Cora's Newsletter

You can find full show notes, and links to resources mentioned in this episode at www.corageroux.com/podcastepisodes/episode6

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