What’s up, yobé fam!? We’re so excited to start bringing you nine types of yoga classes, from Vinyasa and Power to Yin and Restorative. While you may already be familiar with some of the class types, Yoga Nidra might be less recognizable.
Luckily, we have an expert here to help! Meet Beth Behrs, an acclaimed actress you may know from her two hit TV series, 2 Broke Girls and The Neighborhood—who’s coming to the Box as our newest yobé instructor!
Over the next few months, she will be teaching a 4-part Yoga Nidra series, called the Notorious NAP, that will calm your mind, relax your body, and invigorate your spirit. (Yes, according to Beth, it really is that magical!) Keep reading to get to know Beth before you meet her on your mat.
For someone who’s never heard of it, how do you explain what a Yoga Nidra practice entails?
It’s an easy, effortless, beginner-friendly, guided meditation practice. It’s like the best nap of your entire life. That’s why I call it the Notorious NAP! In yoga nidra, you’re lying down—you’re in savasana, lying down the entire time. And your only job is to stay aware, listen to the sound of my voice, and be guided.
Yoga nidra translates to yogic sleep. It takes your mind, and your brain, through different stages that are very similar to sleep. And sometimes you do fall asleep. The best feeling is when you are aware, but your body feels asleep, and you’re still listening. It’s refreshing like sleep too—you’ll wake up and feel fresh and energized. Plus, you don’t get lethargic like you sometimes get after a nap.
My favorite time to do it is around three or four o’clock when you have mid-afternoon slump, or I like to do it right before bed. It’s really good if you struggle with insomnia or anxiety or depression.
How did you originally come across yoga nidra?
I’ve always been a meditator. I started when I was on 2 Broke Girls for a long time, which was my first big job. The pressure was really high. Some months we were filming till two or three o’clock in the morning, then waking up and doing it again. Whitney Cummings, who was writing on the show, introduced me to Transcendental Meditation (TM). I did TM for years, and I still will pull it out. It’s something you have for your whole life once you learn.
But I always felt like I just couldn’t quite let go and get into that space that you hear about in meditation. That’s when I was talking to my friend who’s a yoga nidra teacher who told me to try it. It’s like the easiest form of meditation to do. I fell in love and I have not looked back since.
So how is it different from the “regular” type of meditation?
As someone who’s suffered from anxiety, meditation can be really difficult—it felt like another thing I had to do, especially as a perfectionist who felt like I had to do it right. Yoga nidra is so much easier to let go, and it kind of clears your mind, naturally. I call it a deep tissue massage for your nervous system. Yoga nidra may be less well known, but the crazy thing is that in ancient texts, it was practiced before Buddhism. It’s the OG meditation.
We’re so excited to try it! So, 2 Broke Girls, your first big show, was set right here in Brooklyn, where obé HQ is! Have you ever lived here?
Right, it was set here, but it was filmed in LA! It was set in Williamsburg like 12 years ago, back before it was like how it is now. My character was scared to live there! And yes, I have lived here: I lived in Williamsburg for three months one summer, when I was doing a play at MCC. It was an amazing experience. I was taking runs every day to the water, going to restaurants. It was amazing. I love New York.
What are other tools in your anti-anxiety toolbox?
My other anxiety tool is horses. The horse on the set of 2 Broke Girls was kind of my gateway drug into becoming an obsessive horse girl. I fell in love with the horse, and became friends with the horse trainer and would go ride at his ranch on the weekends. I noticed that my nervous system was more calm around horses. Then about seven years ago I rescued one. It’s like my therapy.
Tell us what you’re working on these days.
I’m on a show called The Neighborhood with Max Greenfield, who you may know as Schmidt from New Girl. We play a white couple from Michigan that moves into a predominantly black neighborhood, and comedy ensues.
Now, for a few rapid-fire questions.
TikTok or Instagram?
Instagram. TikTok is so hard, I don’t know what to do. I’ve been doing baking videos on there because I love to bake too. But I’m on Instagram every day.
Coffee or tea?
Tea. I’ve always been like an English Breakfast, Earl Grey girl. Now I’ve graduated to midday matcha lattes.
Next place you want to travel?
I’ve been dying to go back to Italy. I love Italy. We went there on my honeymoon, and I did a photoshoot in Milan once. I’ve been studying Italian on Duolingo. I really like that app. I feel like it’s better than just being on social media all the time. So I’m trying to learn Italian and go back to Italy someday.
Mountains or beach?
That is really hard for me because I love nature and I love LA, which has both, but I have to say mountains. I grew up in that environment. So it’s more homey to me I guess.
Go-to post-yoga nidra snack?
Probably like a dried fruit situation. Get that blood sugar up a little bit. I really like dried mango.
Absolute favorite food?
Italian food—pasta, pizza, carbs.
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