Bonita Palma, yoga nidra

Anahata Center, Lombard, IL

Bonita's awareness of the importance of stress relief for preventive maintenance began back in the 1970's when she received her first massage. That experience was responsible not only for pointing her in the direction of her own personal quest for healing, but also for the inspiration to be of service to others. She became certified in therapeutic massage, studied with a diverse array of gifted teachers and healers and became introduced to the principles and practice of yoga.

As a transplanted Chicagoan, she is certain that fate had led her to San Francisco in the 1960's "for a reason." Where else could one be surrounded by a community of kindred spirits committed to the joys of healthy living, be graced with the abundance of year-round fresh produce, the multitude of alternative health modalities and practitioners, the magic of bodywork and energy healing, the wisdom of visionary spiritual masters, the grounding practices of meditation, and the miraculous healing power of yoga?

During her 30-plus years in California, Bonita took full advantage of the wealth of opportunities to study and enhance her knowledge and experience as a holistic practitioner. Personal and professional growth naturally meshed into an inextricably interwoven tapestry. In the 1990's, the "miraculous" healing of a chronic injury-related ailment through yoga led to studies with Yogi Amrit Desai (founder of Kripalu and Amrit Methods), Kamini Desai and Eric Walrabenstein, gifted senior instructors. After completing Level I and Level II teacher trainings, Bonita became certified to teach Amrit Yoga. Teaching yoga came as an unexpected surprise to her – as did the absolute joy of it!

Again, one thing led to the next. After 10 years of teaching Amrit Yoga – and practicing and reaping the life-changing benefits of Yoga Nidra – she realized that this ultimate tool of healing and transformation was something that must be shared. She attended the Amrit Yoga Nidra facilitator training and became certified to do just that. Her eclectic background includes a B.A. from DePaul University in Psychology and Holistic Health.

Bonita has taught in various locales, including Chicago, Kansas City and San Francisco. In 2022, she returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. And, although she is semi-retired still offers private sessions and Yoga Nidra CDs.

Bonita's passion about Yoga Nidra and its unique healing powers fuels her commitment to reach out and share its wonders with as many people as possible. Healing through stress relief is an essential part of staying healthy, and even more so during these universally difficult times. Whether you listen to Bonita's CDs, find a Yoga Nidra facilitator in your area, or listen online, the important thing is to experience it. You may just choose to make it an indispensable part of your life!