2022 Wellness Symposium

Presented with funding from the UC Equity in Student Mental Health Initiative

Pause, Rest, Be

A "restshop" with Octavia Raheem

Rest reveals what is possible. Rest is fuel for our dreams.

Virtual yoga nidra (guided relaxation) practice and a talk on rest as a way to support periods of transition

Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 12:30PM - 2:00PM

Watch recording here »


Event Details

The event will include readings, a 30 minute rest practice sequence, reflecting and journaling, and a Q&A.

Every participant will need:

  • Comfortable clothes
  • A quiet place to be
  • A journal and something to write with
  • Headphones are helpful to eliminate distractions

For the fullest benefits of experience participants will want:

  • 1-2 pillows
  • 2 blankets
  • A scarf or something light to cover your eyes with

Additional note to participants:
If your schedule allows, leave 5-10 minutes after the conclusion of your restshop before you move back into the day.


About the Speaker & Author

Octavia Raheem is a mother, author of Gather and Pause, Rest, Be: Stillness Practices for Courage during Times of Change (Shambhala Press/ Penguin Random House). She is the founder of Starshine & Clay, an in-person retreat and online community space devoted to the rest and care of Black Women and Women of Color. With 10,000+ hours of training and teaching experience, she is a wise, real, and relatable leader in the field of rest, wellness, and yoga. Her work focuses on practical tools to teach individuals how to manage stress, anxiety, and fatigue through rest, yoga, and meditation in a way that is accessible to all levels/abilities, and supportive to the nervous system. Additionally she has received national attention for her work training yoga teachers and diversifying the yoga and wellness industry. Octavia has been featured in Yoga Journal, Mantra magazine, Well + Good, CNN, and Atlanta Magazine.

If you'd like to hear Octavia speak and learn more about her book, here is a recent podcast episode of Hello Monday/LinkedIn that she was featured in.


Past Wellness Symposium Events

2019 What the Eyes Don't See: A Process of Uncovering the Flint Water Crisis

2015 Piece of Mind: Performances Addressing Mental Illness and Its Stigma

2014 Piece of Mind: Performances Addressing Mental Illness and Its Stigma

2013 Character: The Ultimate Survival Tool

2012 Black Male Student Success in College Symposium