Introduction to iRest

with Rianna Reid

Self-Paced Meditation Course

Learn iRest From Home

    1. Introduction to iRest Basics with Rianna Reid

    2. What is iRest?

    3. What You Need to Set Up for an iRest Practice

    4. The 10 Steps of iRest

    5. What Happens During iRest?

    6. iRest Research Addendum

    1. Intro to iRest: Inner Resource Lesson

    2. Inner Resource Worksheet - Identifying Your Inner Resource

    3. Guided Meditation 1: Inner Resource

    1. Intro to iRest: Intention Setting & Heartfelt Desire Lesson

    2. Heartfelt Desire Worksheet - Identifying Your Heartfelt Desire

    3. Intention Worksheet - Identifying Your Intention

    4. Guided Meditation 2: Intention Setting & Heartfelt Desire

    1. Intro to iRest: Body Sensing and Breath Sensing Lesson

    2. BodySensing Worksheet - What is BodySensing?

    3. BreathSensing Worksheet - What is Breath Sensing?

    4. Guided Meditation Lesson 3: BodySensing & BreathSensing

    1. Intro to iRest: Feelings & Emotions Lesson

    2. Feelings & Emotions Worksheet

    3. Identifying Opposites of Feeling Worksheet

    4. Identifying Opposites of Emotion Worksheet

    5. Guided Meditation Lesson 4: Feelings & Emotions Meditation

    1. Intro to iRest: Cognitions: Thoughts, Beliefs, Images Lesson

    2. Cognitions: Thoughts, Beliefs, Images

    3. Identifying Opposites of Cognition Worksheet

    4. Foundation Practices: Meeting, Greeting, Welcoming and Proactively Engaging Sensations, Emotions, and Cognitions

    5. Guided Meditation Lesson 5: Thoughts, Beliefs, Images Meditation

What to Expect:

  • Free
  • 8 Full-Length Audio Meditations
  • 8 How-to Video Lessons
  • 10 Personal Inquiry Worksheets

iRest Student Testimonials

“ I am a woman in recovery. At around 6 months into my sobriety I attended your class and it completely elevated my experience. I'm almost a year and a half sober now! I would love to share your practice with some of my friends as well.”

iRest Meditation Practitioner

“Thank you so much for the recording and offering the class. I really enjoyed it, you did a great job! ”

iRest Meditation Practitioner

FAQs

About iRest

  • What happens during iRest

    During iRest, we observe, welcome, and engage various aspects of our waking existence, starting with the grossest form, the physical body, and then moving on through more subtle layers, such as the breath, feelings, emotions, thoughts, joy, and awareness. As we welcome everything that is present in the body and mind, our emotions and thoughts begin to grow calmer. In the process, we discover and connect to the aspect of ourselves that is always peaceful and at ease.

  • What are the steps of iRest?

    While resting at ease, iRest guides you through a series of inquiries inviting you to welcome opposites of sensation, breath, emotions, beliefs, images, and memories that naturally arise within your awareness. As you engage each experience, you proactively explore actions you can responsively take with respect to what you are experiencing. You also experience yourself as the observer or witnessing awareness, which is an unchanging presence in which your ever-changing experience is unfolding. Initial relaxation is followed by guided consideration of heartfelt desire, intention, inner resource, body sensing, breath sensing, feelings, emotions, thoughts & beliefs, joy, awareness, and integration.

  • What do you need to practice iRest Meditation?

    Not a lot:) You may choose to practice sitting up or laying down. Headphones are the best way to stay connected and tuned in. Eye shades can be nice but are not required.

iRest Research Addendum

The U.S. Military Uses iRest

In 2004 Integrative Restoration Institute (IRI) was called in to conduct research on the efficacy of iRest in helping active duty wounded warriors who were returning for medical treatment from the Afghan and Iraqi warfronts. As a result of the research, members of the iRest organization were hired by WRAMC to work in the Deployment Health Clinical Center (DHCC) where, since 2006, every wounded warrior coming through DHCC has had access to our iRest protocol as part of their healing program. Subsequently, the Miami VA entered into an 18-month random control trial (RCT) to study the efficacy of iRest with veterans experiencing PTSD. Testimonials of veterans from the Miami study indicate that veterans found iRest extremely useful in helping them with their symptoms of depression, pain, and insomnia associated with their PTSD. Soldiers reported such things as "iRest helps us realize what's right about us, not what's wrong" and "As a result of iRest I am sleeping through the night for the first time since Vietnam."Subsequently, iRest has been picked up for studies on Compassionate Care Fatigue at BrookeArmy Medical Center (BAMC), as well as a current study at BAMC studying iRest as a resiliency training for military couples to help reduce their stress and divorce rate during deployment. Research has also been conducted on iRest at the Boise State University, Boise, Idaho with respect to the use of iRest to decrease stress in patients undergoing treatment for Cancer, with people experiencing MS, and to reduce stress among School Counsellors. The U of Missouri is also conducting a three-year study using iRest to help increase wellbeing and reduce stress, depression and anxiety among college students. A recent study conducted at the U of Ohio showed that iRest significantly reduces cortisol levels in its practitioners, more so as compared with the much studied Relaxation Response. iRest has also been used successfully to decrease stress, anxiety and depression, and to help reduce recidivism in people experiencing chemical dependency. Currently the NJ VA, in conjunction with the Washington DC VA and Palo Alto VA, is conducting research on the use of iRest as not only a healing protocol, but as a Wellness Program for veterans throughout the US.iRest is also being researched at the Washington DC VA to study to its efficacy with veterans experiencing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Chronic Pain. And plans are underway to research the effect of iRest on the plasticity of the brain through the use of fMRI and EEG studies.
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Instructor

Rianna Reid

Your Guide

Rianna Reid is a yoga movement and mindfulness meditation instructor, specializing in corporate & group wellness events, trauma sensitivity, and psychedelic integration. Rianna began teaching yoga in 1999 and has been studying movement & mindfulness practices since. These tools have become the foundation for many of Rianna’s creative, emotional, and integrative processes throughout her life. With 20 years of experience as both a mom and corporate marketing manager, Rianna intimately understands the challenges of balancing executive work and family life. Rianna’s work is intended to support burned-out professionals, trauma survivors, and anyone seeking everyday ease by designing and delivering simple, accessible mindfulness practices for modern life.