On Sacred Rest and Grief with Octavia Raheem
But rest is not only the medicine we need to heal in these times, rest is also a radical act of resistance, a quiet revolution of reclaiming our own humanity and sovereignty.
In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by the incredible Octavia Raheem (she/her), where we unpack:
- why we’re all so damn tired,
- the gentle power of resting,
- how to find rest even if you’re working 12-hour days or single parenting,
- the challenges of meeting what comes up when you start resting, and
- how rest can be a place of refuge during deep grief and through life’s challenging times.
Octavia F. Raheem is a wife, mother, three-time author, rest coach, and restorative + Yoga Nidra Teacher. She is the founder of Devoted to Rest® a transformational rest-focused immersion for visionary leaders making a high impact in their fields and teaches passionate and driven individuals how to awaken their fullest potential through the power of rest.
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Dr Lauren Tober (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist, Yoga Teacher, founder of the Yoga Psychology Institute, host of the A Grateful Life podcast and author of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers.
Lauren developed the Mental Health Aware Yoga training to help yoga teachers make their classes safe, nourishing and transformative for all.
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The information provided on this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs for professional training.
Any statements, claims or endorsements expressed by our guest authors, speakers and podcast sponsors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Mental Health Aware Yoga and the Yoga Psychology Institute.
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Registration for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training is now open!
Deepen your skills in the growing field of yoga and mental health and offer real transformation as you support your yoga students experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and trauma.
Starts 16th February 2026.
Early bird ends on the 10th January 2026 (save $200).
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Hi, I'm Dr Lauren Tober!
As a Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher of nearly two decades and the author of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers, I'm passionate about integrating yoga and psychology on the mat, in the counselling room and in the world.
With the growing interest in mental health and yoga, yoga students are attending yoga classes for the mental health benefits in unprecedented numbers.
In fact, 79.4% of yoga students report practicing yoga for the mental health benefits.
It's important that Yoga Teachers know how to support them.
I'm glad you're here.
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