Nurses Month Yoga

In May, we gathered for a special yoga practice in honor of Nurses Month. National Nurses Day on May 6 begins a week of recognition, and many extend that recognition through the entire month of May. Our session was created as a space for nurses to be cared for, rather than always being the ones who provide care.

Why Yin Yoga for Nurses

Nurses carry so much. Long shifts, physical strain, and the emotional weight of caring for patients often leave little space for personal wellness. Yin Yoga meets this need because it is slow, restorative, and deeply grounding. Instead of constant movement, Yin asks us to hold gentle postures for longer periods of time, allowing muscles and fascia to release and the nervous system to settle.

This practice was not about pushing or performing. It was about slowing down, reconnecting with the body, and offering rest in a safe and supportive environment.

Somatics and Nervous System Care

Throughout the session, we paired Yin postures with somatic awareness. Nurses practiced noticing the subtle shifts in their bodies, the rise and fall of their breath, and the sensation of the ground beneath them.

We also gave them somatic tools to take home, practices they can use in the middle of a shift or when overwhelm rises:

• Supported forward fold in a chair to calm the nervous system and release the spine

• Hand-to-heart breath to ground quickly during stressful moments

• Wall-supported legs up pose for decompression after a long day on their feet

• Three-count exhale breathing to slow the heart rate and bring presence back into the body

• Gentle hip openers that can be done after work to release tension stored from standing and lifting

These tools reminded participants that regulation and rest do not have to wait for the yoga mat. They can be integrated into daily routines in simple ways.

What We Witnessed Together

By the end of the practice, the energy in the room had shifted. Nurses described feeling lighter, more open, and more at ease. One participant said it was the first time all month they had felt fully present in their own body. Another shared how grateful they were to have short Yin-inspired practices they could bring into their workday to stay grounded.