What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra, translated directly as yogic sleep, is a deeply transformative experience. Guided by a yoga therapist or yoga teacher, you are brought down deep into the space between sleep and wakefulness. We dive deep into the subconscious and plant seeds of intention in the fertile soil of your mind. Sound a little out there? Keep reading to learn how it works.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is derived from tantric practices (not the sexy kind, the yogic kind), and teaches you how to relax consciously. Usually when we relax we flop into a chair and switch on the TV or doom scroll on our device (sometimes both at the same time), but this is unconscious relaxation. Similarly, while sleep is restful, it too is an unconscious state. Yoga Nidra is a practice where you learn to rest in a state of awareness.
How do I practice Yoga Nidra?
It’s pretty simple. You’ll need a blanket, and a comfortable floor space. The practitioners lie on the floor covered in a blanket, and the therapist or teacher talks them into a deep state of awareness. It’s an odd feeling, but a pleasant one - you’re completely aware of all that is happening, but you feel so deeply relaxed it’s like you’re unable to move.
What does Yoga Nidra do for me?
Yoga Nidra is thought to:
rejuvenate the brain
fight fatigue
regulate the nervous system
reduce anxiety
improve concentration
increase body-mind awareness
release stress
Yoga Nidra is one of my favourite practices to use with my clients, and it’s often their favourite practice too! If you’d like to listen to a basic Yoga Nidra practice, click here to head to my Insight Timer page. If you’d like a Yoga Nidra practice developed just for you, click here to book an appointment with me.
Rest well.