Yoga Nidra and Crystal Bowl Sound Bath (all levels welcome)
In Sarasota, where the calendar can fill faster than the afternoon light fades from the bay, stillness has become its own kind of luxury.
By Edit Sarasota Staff
In Sarasota, where the calendar can fill faster than the afternoon light fades from the bay, stillness has become its own kind of luxury. Yoga Nidra and Crystal Bowl Sound Bath offers an evening devoted not to exertion, but to the restorative art of doing very little—lying comfortably, breathing steadily, and allowing the mind to loosen its grip.
Known as “yogic sleep,” Yoga Nidra is a guided meditative practice that does not require poses or prior experience. Participants settle onto a mat or blanket as instructor Paige Phelps of Yoga with Paige leads them through a somatic journey of body awareness, mindful breathing, and visualization. The practice begins with a sankalpa, or personal intention, which serves as an anchor as attention moves inward. The aim is not to achieve something so much as to make room: for deeper rest, renewed clarity, creative thought, and a more settled sense of self.
The setting matters. Held outdoors at the Downtown Sarasota campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the session unfolds amid the quiet textures of the gardens, where tropical foliage, open air, and the rhythms of the natural world offer a gentle counterpoint to the demands of daily life. Selby Gardens has long given Sarasota a place to encounter the living world through horticulture, conservation, education, and cultural programming. This class extends that mission into a more personal register, inviting participants to experience the garden not only as a landscape to explore, but as an environment in which to pause.
The closing crystal singing bowl sound bath adds a resonant final chapter. As the bowls sound, their sustained tones are intended to move through the body and correspond with its seven energy systems, or chakras. Whether approached as spiritual practice, sensory immersion, or simply an opportunity to listen, the experience offers a spacious transition back into the day, with participants invited to leave feeling calmer, more grounded, and whole.
All levels are welcome, and general admission to the Gardens is included in the course fee, making it possible to arrive early and spend time among the plantings before class. The outdoor setting calls for comfortable clothing, a yoga mat or blanket, water, and any personal comforts—such as sunscreen or insect repellent. Participants should meet at the Welcome Center Gazebo by 3:15 p.m. for the 3:30 p.m. start on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 1534 Mound Street in Sarasota. Same-day registration is welcome if space remains; questions may be directed to programs-classes@selby.org.