In this four-hour guided workshop, Dr. Michael Ferguson, Professor of Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School, weaves together themes of deep rest, positive psychology, and his own research on the neuroscience of spirituality. Deep rest is a scientifically recognised state of profound rejuvenation that extends beyond ordinary relaxation, facilitating both psychological restoration and physiological repair. It is marked by a shift into parasympathetic nervous system dominance (rest and digest), which reduces cortisol levels, promotes heart rate variability (HRV), and activates cellular regeneration processes.
The workshop also introduces practices grounded in Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR), a term which refers to intentional, structured periods of rest that can restore cognitive function, improve memory consolidation, and increase dopamine receptor sensitivity. NSDR protocols, such as yoga nidra and specific breathwork techniques, are shown to enhance focus, reduce anxiety, and promote sustained mental clarity.
Dr. Ferguson’s approach integrates these methodologies within a broader framework of spiritual neuroscience, offering participants not only rest but a renewed connection to meaning, self-awareness, and embodied wellbeing.
Please wear comfortable clothing and remember to bring: water bottle, a yoga mat, eye mask (optional) and a notepad and pen (optional)
