iRest® Yoga Nidra at The Yoga Tree

Ongoing Classes,
Workshops, Trainings, Retreats!
scroll down to learn more!

Morning Meditation (mini-iRest)
Mondays and Fridays
on Zoom
9-9:30 am with Susanne Hutchinson
FREE

iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation
Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 am with Susanne, In-person and on Zoom
Wednesdays, 6:00-7:15 pm with Kelly on Zoom (beginning in January!)
Use your class pass or drop-in ($22 in person, $16 on zoom)

iRest Advanced Topic Series
Tuesdays, 6:00-7:15 pm with Jennifer
Navigating the Body: An iRest Journey through the Koshas - a 4 week series beginning February 4

Map of Meditation Immersion
with Jennifer Cabanero in the studio!
March 14-16 - See below for details!

iRest Level 1 Yoga Nidra Training is back at The Yoga Tree!
with Jennifer Cabanero, in person!
June 13-15 and 20-22, 2025 Registration Info Coming Soon!

iRest Fundamentals - 6 Week Series
Mondays, 6:00-7:15 pm with Susanne Hutchinson
Offered every 6 weeks on Zoom
$90 for the series, or drop-in to any single session for $16
Next series begins January 6

Friday Night Yoga Nidra
Offered monthly, 6:00-7:30 pm, In-person and on Zoom
with Jennifer Kenworthy
$35
January 17, February 14, March 28, April 11, May 9, June 6

Songs of the Breath & iRest Yoga Nidra: A Winter Mini-Retreat
with Kelly Walker
February 15, 1:00-3:00 pm, $45, Registration Now Open!

Silent Meditation Retreat at Aldermarsh on Whidbey Island
with Susanne Hutchinson and Kelly Walker
August 29-31, 2025, Registration now open!

iRest® Fundamentals:
A 6 week series
with Susanne Hutchinson
Mondays, through February 10
6:00-7:15 pm Pacific on Zoom
$90 for the Series or drop in to any single session for $16

Mondays, January 6 - February 10
6:00-7:15 pm Pacific, Online via Zoom
$90 for the series, or drop in to any single session for $16. You can also use your class pass for any single session.
Preregistration required. You will receive a Zoom link in your email prior to the start of class.
CEU's for Yoga Alliance available!

Whether you are brand new to iRest Yoga Nidra, or have been taking classes but are wanting to spend a bit more time exploring the fundamental aspects of the protocol, this Fundamentals Series is for you.

Each week, Susanne will guide you through an in-depth exploration of a different step of the iRest protocol. Class will consist of some lecture, discussion, and a guided practice.

This series can serve as a great place to begin before taking one of Jennifer’s advanced series, or as a supplement to the weekly drop-in classes.

Week 1 - Inner Resource - Discovering our felt sense of security and well-being - January 6
Week 2 - Intention and Heartfelt Desire - Laying the foundation of Sankalpa: making commitments that support our heart’s longing - January 13
Week 3 - Body sensation - Sensing and welcoming the body as sensation - January 20
Week 4 - Breath sensing - Experiencing the breath as a flow of energy that moves through the body - January 27
Week 5 - Meeting thoughts and emotions - February 3
Week 6 - Joy and Well-being - Welcoming joy independent of objects or circumstance, and Realizing our Essential Nature - February 10

This series will run continuously, every 6 weeks. So if you miss one week, no worries! You can catch it the next time around, or drop in to any single session that you want to spend more time exploring.

Friday Night iRest® Yoga Nidra
with Jennifer Kenworthy
January 17
6:00-7:30 pm, both in-person and on zoom!
Register on the weekly class schedule, $35

Friday Night Yoga Nidra is back!
iRest Yoga Nidra is a meditation and relaxation practice that enables you to be able to handle the stress and strains we feel in daily life. Derived from the Yoga tradition, iRest is an evidence-based approach with research that shows it is helpful with healing anxiety, sleep, and chronic pain disorders, as well as increasing wellbeing and joy.

This special Friday Night class begins with simple movement to help you ease tension in the body, followed by calming breath work before the deeply relaxing and restorative practice of Yoga Nidra.

No previous experience is necessary, and all are welcome.
Upcoming Dates: February 14, March 28, April 11, May 9, June 6

Navigating the Body:
An iRest® Journey through the Koshas
with Jennifer Cabanero
Tuesdays, February 4-25
6:00-7:15 pm on Zoom

Tuesdays, February 4-25
6:00-7:15 pm on Zoom
$80 Early Bird Price until January 10/$90 after January 10

When we practice iRest® Yoga Nidra, we take a journey through the koshas, a Sanskrit term meaning sheath or layer. The koshas are the layers that make up our humanness, such as the body, our breath & energy, emotions, beliefs, well-being, and the finer points of the ego.
The first and most important kosha is the body and its sensations. Sensing the body can be deeply relaxing. It also helps to develop the ability to focus, and attending to the sensations in the body helps us to enhance our ability to receive its messages. While sensing the body might seem simple to some, many people find this challenging; perhaps there are areas in the body that feel numb, painful, or are simply inaccessible.

In this series we will begin each class with practices to prepare us to meet the body sensations, as well as practices that assist in amplifying sensations in the body. As the series progresses, subtler practices will be introduced.

Body Sensing is a practice that opens many doors including the ability to feel/sense our inherent Wholeness; this that is unchanging, has never been harmed, and is okay no matter the circumstances of our lives.

This class is suitable for beginners, intermediate, as well as Yoga Nidra instructors.
Each class will be recorded and sent to you via email and will be accessible for six months after the last class.

Songs of the Breath & iRest® Yoga Nidra:
A Winter Mini-Retreat
with Kelly Walker
Saturday, February 15
1:00-3:00 pm, $45

Saturday, February 15
1:00-3:00 pm, in-person only
$45, preregistration required

I hum
steady
like the slow ringing of a bell
and when silence descends
I sit in deep quiet
lost in the shimmering applause of every cell!

This mini-retreat highlights the vibrancy of sound via yogic breath practices and a deeply restful iRest Yoga Nidra practice. Pranayama, or breath practices, will be woven through a slow progression from an opening restorative pose to a gentle, easy whole body stretch. These will be followed by an exploration of breath practices, taken while seated, supine, and standing, creating a gateway to inner exploration and well being. The finale will be a rich guided iRest® Yoga Nidra practice, the Sleep of the Yogis. This total experience is designed to uncover pathways to relaxation, peace, well-being, and our Essential Nature of wholeness, while witnessing the truth of each moment.

This 2-hour mini-retreat will include:

An opening restorative pose for turning inward
Gentle stretches for whole body release
A variety of guided breath practices for meditative vibrancy, including special variations of Hum Breath (Bhramari) and Ocean Breath (Ujjayi) exploring the sounds of the breath
A guided iRest Yoga Nidra practice for rest and inner exploration

Please feel free to dress comfortably in warm clothing, if you like. Thank you in advance for arriving 10-15 minutes before the experience starts and for bringing a yoga mat. Doors are closed five minutes after the session starts.

“Pranayama is an art form, a way of communicating – purifying, detoxifying, spiritually enlightening, freeing. Its gifts, numerous and varied, accrued through practice. Enjoy creating energetic pathways with abandon…”
-Linda Oshins, “Pranayama: A Compendium of Practices”

The Map of Meditation:
Weekend Immersion
with Jennifer Cabanero
March 14-16 at the studio!
$200 Early Bird Price until February 14/$225 after February 14

March 14-16 at The Yoga Tree
Friday: 6:00-8:00 pm
Saturday: 1:00-4:00 pm
Sunday: 1:00-4:00 pm
$200 Early Bird Price until February 14/$225 after February 14

Did you know that there is a map that describes what can arise when we embark upon a meditation practice? There is! It is an ancient map that incorporates the secular teachings of many spiritual traditions.

Regardless of what type of meditation that we practice, very similar experiences can arise. This map, like a periodic table of meditation elements, can be used as a navigation tool to orient ourselves and to support the growth of an unshakeable inner grounded-ness that we will need as we move into the more spacious and timeless aspects of meditation. When the mind is oriented, we have a better chance of settling into our meditation.

In this weekend immersion there will be some lecture to help build an understanding of the map of meditation. The bulk of the weekend will be in experiencing and embodying the map through meditative practices.

While we will be exploring this map through the lens of iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation, you won’t need any previous experience with iRest.
There will be handouts and a recording of our final practice to help support you in your personal practice.

This weekend is open to anyone of any meditation background and experience.

Registration now open!
iRest® Meditation Silent Retreat
with Susanne Hutchinson and Kelly Walker
August 29-31, 2025
Aldermarsh Retreat Center on Whidbey Island

August 29-31, 2025
With Susanne Hutchinson and Kelly Walker
$850 Early Bird Price until June 25, 2025/$900 after June 25
Price includes shared lodging and delicious vegetarian meals prepared by Ayurvedic Chef, Aria Peterman

Aldermarsh Retreat Center on Whidbey Island
6436 Maxwelton Rd.
Clinton, WA 98236

Silent retreat is a chance to connect with ourselves at a deeper level. With fewer distractions we become tuned in to our inner life, our hopes, and our dreams. We also become aware of the beliefs that we have about ourselves and the world around us. With time, as the stream of thoughts begin to slow down, we experience mini-moments of true calm and peace. In this way, silent retreat can yield fresh perspective, and bring clarity to our state of mind. Coming out of silence, there is often a renewed sense of gratitude for ourselves and for life just as it is.

The ancient non-dual teachings behind iRest Yoga Nidra help us to reconnect with our essential nature; the part of ourselves that is grounded, whole and unchanging no matter what occurs in our lives. Retreat is a precious time that we can set aside to dedicate our selves to nourishing our inherent wholeness.

This retreat offers the perfect combination of guided iRest meditation, body-sensing movement, breath-sensing, sitting, walking, and co-meditation. It is through practicing meditation in movement, stillness, and with others that we experience first hand how these teachings come alive for us as a practice of life.
This retreat is open to students of all levels who wish to sample the fullness iRest offers for health, healing, and wholeness of being. Come prepared to explore stillness, movement, laughter, and delight.

Upon registration, please let us know of any food allergies or dietary restrictions and if you are coming with a friend or would like us to pair you with a roommate. All rooms are shared lodging.

Meet Our iRest® Teachers
click on pictures for credentials and bio

“One day you finally knew what you had to do and began...” ~ Mary Oliver

Jennifer was introduced to Hatha yoga when she was a child by her mother who had learned it in turn, from her mother. Jennifer began teaching Hatha yoga in 1998. In 2003, Jennifer was introduced to the teachings of Dr. Richard Miller and the deeply healing practice of iRest® Yoga Nidra. In just a few sessions, she felt a profound shift in her ability to be at ease amidst the ups and downs of life.

Jennifer has trained extensively with Dr. Richard Miller in the art and craft of iRest® Yoga Nidra. She has been assisting in iRest trainings and retreats since 2012. She is a Senior iRest Teacher Trainer and a Certification Supervisor for the Integrative Restoration Institute (IRI) an educational non-profit, that provides programs, teacher trainings, and retreats based on the ancient teachings of Yoga. Come to her Tuesday morning or Wednesday night classes to find out more about this profound practice of restoration and self-inquiry.

In her movement classes she encourages connecting with the breath and sensation, moment to moment, so that the poses arise from an inner wisdom rather than an outer form imposed upon the body. Jennifer’s students describe her as wise, approachable, intuitive and supportive. She infuses her classes with poetry and with a profound insight into the workings of the body and the nature of the human spirit.

Her Hatha Yoga teaching has been inspired by Donna Farhi, Gary Kraftsow, and Richard Miller, She loves exploring BodySensing Yoga, Developmental Movement Patterns, Somatics, functional movement, and strength training.

She is known for her infectious laugh and her abundant garden (those are her beautiful flowers you see at the studio). In addition to brightening the studio with her plants and personality, she also co-manages the studio.

In her own life, she has used yoga to heal from a severe back injury and uses iRest Yoga Nidra meditation as a way to nurture herself as she supports her husband, who lives with cancer. In her spare time she runs wild with her two nieces, enjoys cooking (she used to be a pastry chef!) and spending as much time out of doors as possible.

Through the teachings of iRest Yoga Nidra, Jennifer has become aware of a deep sense of wholeness that has always been present and with this wholeness, an ability to fully welcome life with all of its ups and downs. How could she not share this with the world?

Jennifer Cabanero (she/her) E-RYT 500, C-IAYT iRest® Senior Teacher Trainer iRest® Certification Supervisor

Susanne’s early experiences with yoga began as a small girl practicing along in her fuzzy pink pajamas with PBS’ Lillias, Yoga, and You. Many years later she tiptoed shyly into a class at the local gym searching for a way to alleviate stress and anxiety. She has been a devoted practitioner ever since, exploring many different styles and teachers.
Susanne firmly believes in the accessibility of yoga, and that anyone and everyone can experience its joy as well as its physical and mental benefits. Susanne is a student of yoga first and foremost, studying with amazing teachers from all over the world. Susanne has been teaching since 2010, and is registered with Yoga Alliance. In addition to Hatha Yoga and Chair Yoga, Susanne teaches the mindful practices of Yin and Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra. She is a Certified iRest® Yoga Nidra Instructor, and has assisted in numerous trainings, retreats and immersions.

With Susanne, you can expect a class that is approachable, balanced, and a little bit playful. You might hear the occasional giggle or “ya’ll”. You will be encouraged to explore how poses feel in your body and maybe discover something new about yourself or experience a pose in a different way.

Off the mat, Susanne enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and celebrating life with family and friends.

Susanne Hutchinson (she/her) Owner, Director of Teacher Training E-RYT 500, YACEP Certified iRest® Instructor

Kelly Walker is a Certified iRest® Instructor, Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT 200) and Certified Pranayama Instructor, with a Master in Education. She began her Yoga Nidra journey in 2013, taking her first iRest class with the masterful Senior iRest Trainer & Supervisor Jennifer Cabanero, at The Yoga Tree. Over the years, Kelly has dedicated herself to the practice and study of Yoga Nidra and Pranyama, studying Pranayama with the esteemed Linda Oshins and iRest with Jennifer and many other wonderful Senior iRest Facilitators, as well as taking general yoga studies with Susanne Hutchinson. At the iRest Institute, she serves as an Professional Assistant for teacher training and retreats. Kelly is thrilled to offer Yoga Nidra and Pranayama classes, workshops, and retreats at The Yoga Tree, as the studio is near and dear to her heart. To all of these endeavors, Kelly brings skills from a 25+ year career as an educator, offering a warm atmosphere, space for exploration, and a sincere, heartfelt dedication to these beloved, transformational practices!

Kelly Walker RYT 200 Certified iRest® Teacher Certified Pranayama Teacher

Jennifer Kenworthy (she/her) RYT 200 iRest® Level 2 Teacher