Robin Carnes

iRest Certified Teacher
Silver Spring, MD

In 2005, Robin was hired as a Subject Matter Expert by the Defense Department and Samueli Institute to co-develop a research protocol and serve as lead instructor of the first DOD-funded feasibility study of yoga nidra meditation for PTS symptoms. Between 2006 and 2012 Robin served as the yoga and iRest® Yoga Nidra meditation instructor for the Deployment Health Clinical Center’s (DHCC) acute Post Traumatic Stress Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program, The Specialized Care Program, at Walter Reed Medical Center. As a member of the SCP’s clinical team, Robin has worked with military families, individuals suffering from Military Sexual Trauma, and with clinical staff struggling with compassion fatigue.

This work sparked a passion for bringing mind/body healing and the military together in a growing number of ways. Robin is a co-founder and Executive Director of Warriors at Ease, Inc., which trains certified yoga and meditation teachers in core competencies required to work safely and effectively in military communities affected by combat-related stress. To date, Warriors at Ease has trained almost 500 yoga and meditation teachers across the country.

Robin is well recognized as a pioneer and innovator in her field, and has been written about in the Washington Post, Woman’s Day Magazine, Yoga Journal, Army Magazine and Defense.gov. She has presented at numerous military healthcare conferences. Her work is featured in Amy Weintraub’s book, Yoga Skills for Therapists (Norton 2012), and the award-winning documentary film, Escape Fire: Rescuing America’s Healthcare System. In 2013, the Smithsonian Institute honored Robin for her work bringing yoga and meditation to veterans.

Robin, also a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), has a private practice in Silver Spring, MD, and trains psychotherapists to integrate mind-body practices into their clinical work. Robin started her career as a management consultant and trainer to companies including AT&T, Discovery Channel, and Staples for over a decade. She left the corporate world in 1995. Her book, Sacred Circles: A Guide to Creating Your Own Women’s Spirituality Group was published by Harper San Francisco in 1998. Robin pursued her lifelong interest in mind/body healing and went on to be certified as an iRest® yoga nidra meditation instructor, and a yoga teacher. For 10 years, Robin launched and managed successful volunteer program at a women’s shelter in Washington DC. She has produced three meditation CDs which have helped thousands of people destress. www.yoganidranow.com.

Robin graduated summa cum laude from Keene State College in 1983. In 1985, she attended Harvard Divinity School. For three years she matriculated in the joint Masters in Social Work/Masters in Business Administration program at Boston College. She graduated with honors in 1988 from Boston College Graduate School of Management with an MBA. She is a certified yoga instructor and a certified iRest® yoga nidra instructor.