Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is sometime referred to as “the yoga of sleep.” However, during yoga nidra the idea is to remain awake while being guided through verbal instruction that assists the mind, body and intellect in achieving a complete state of relaxation. Yoga Nidra utilizes a series of body, breath and awareness techniques designed to help you move down the progressive brain waves states where there are naturally less and less thoughts. You are assisted in dropping from your thinking mind via your feeling body and to use that sensation to slide into a state of just being—not thinking, not doing. You reach a point of awareness without having to try or make the effort to be aware, you are resting as awareness itself. 

The intent is to then be able to take this awareness into your daily life by gaining the ability to notice your thoughts/feelings/reactions/sensations/struggles and move through them rather than being caught up and dragged around by them. You learn that you control them, they do not control you. Gaining this awareness through Yoga Nidra leads you to pause and allow yourself the space to consciously choose rather than automatically be driven by your impulses and reactions to your thoughts and emotions. You learn to step back and choose or not choose to entertain a thought or engage in a habit.

Yoga Nidra brings balance to your nervous system by reducing brain wave rhythms, reducing cortisol and noradrenaline levels and increasing endorphin levels. One hour of Yoga Nidra is said to be the equivalent of three to four hours of natural sleep.

No prior experience or physical prowess is necessary to practice Yoga Nidra. Only one posture is used throughout a Yoga Nidra session. It is simply to lie comfortably on your back with or without bolsters and blankets for support and comfort. The posture, however, can be completely adapted to lying on one’s side or sitting comfortably in a chair if necessary. The room is in semi, not complete darkness. You then simply mentally follow the voice of the instructor for the duration of the practice.