What Buka Teachers Want You to Know About Yoga Nidra
Updated: 2 days ago
Physical movement is just one doorway into a yoga practice. Creating space for inner stillness through meditation is another, and it can be powerful, especially with sleep-based mindfulness meditation like I AM Yoga Nidra™.
In September and October 2026, several Buka Yoga teachers and many others from around Denver and the country attended an I AM Yoga Nidra immersion training with Kamini Desai, PhD, of the Amrit Yoga Institute and the lineage holder for I AM Yoga Nidra. After studio owner Brooke Page-Thompson completed the same training in 2020 online, she has long been waiting to bring this event home to Buka, and is delighted to now have more Yoga Nidra classes on the schedule at both the Castle Rock and Denver Tech Center locations.
The training explored the mechanics of guided meditation, dove deep into subtle-body theory, practiced holding space for true stillness, and so much more. It’d be impossible to encapsulate all that was covered in the 66-hour training, so we thought we’d ask our teachers to share their biggest takeaways.
Here’s what they would like you to know.
Yoga Nidra and Difficult Emotions, Stress
Amanda Conti shares her most powerful takeaway in this video. She talks about how, through a shift in thinking and a meditation practice, difficult emotions can simply move through us.
Buka Yoga teacher Claire Eby echoed the sentiment and says, "The Yoga Nidra training gave me a super effective tool for daily management of stress, worry, and overthinking. It’s so easy and accessible. I never regret listening to a Nidra or going to a Nidra class for my own self-care.”
Esther Smith agrees and can see how Yoga Nidra would be an incredible offering for the workplace.
Unlike Other Yoga Nidra Techniques
The I AM Yoga Nidra technique is one of many available. Its depth in material is unmatched as its focus on energetic transmission.
"When I signed up for the I AM Yoga Nidra training, I wasn’t sure how different it would be from the Yoga Nidra training I did in 2020, which was a different style... But something called to me. I AM Yoga Nidra is so much more than a meditation. This training and these Nidras touch my soul and heart. As a Reiki Master, the fact that these Nidras honor energy teachings and include them really spoke to me. They feel more authentic to me and my practice.
"Kamini is a remarkable teacher whose wisdom comes from the deep knowledge of the ancient teachings, the connection and teachings she has with the lineage via her father, and the scientific evidence that has come to be. Her style of teaching is easily accessible by anyone—you don’t have to know anything about Nidra to learn from her!" — Phyllis Harvey
"Training with Kamini Desai is a master class in energy transmission. Her steadiness lets a room be exactly as it is, then without her saying a word, the energy shifts and settles. Her way of being demonstrates just how much a teacher’s presence shapes a student’s experience.
"I’ve practiced Yoga Nidra regularly for the past few years and offer it in my classes. But Kamini’s guidance unlocked another level, giving me practical skills to stay grounded in my own energy and deepen how I show up for myself and others in and out of the studio." — Mindy Connors
Pictured here: Kamini Desai PhD of the Amrit Yoga Institute at Buka Yoga
The Power of Intentions
Quite a bit of time was dedicated to understanding intentions, coming up with your intentions, and sharing those intentions with each other. Here is what teacher Katherine Ewald experienced in between the two immersion weekends and so generously shared about her family member's intention.
Learn More About and Experience Yoga Nidra for Yourself
The immersion delivered clear, structured tools that our teachers will carry into their daily routines and class offerings. Buka students can expect more aspects of meditation, including Nidra, at the end of more classes of all kinds.
Learn more about what Yoga Nidra is in this blog post on our site.
Get the details for the next I AM Yoga Nidra training happening in 2028 and the advanced training happening in 2027 for those who completed the first.
You can also experience Yoga Nidra led by Kamini Desai herself. Learn more about her app here.
Last, you are invited to join us for a Yoga Nidra class right here at Buka Yoga! There are currently Friday evening classes at both studio locations.
