What is yoga nidra?
Ah, yoga nidra. The magical yoga also known as psychic sleep or ‘Buddha’s Sleep.’
Yoga nidra is an ancient and tantric yoga practice that allows you to consciously relax your mind, body and spirit. In Sanskrit, nidra means sleep. It is a state of consciousness that is between being awake and sleeping. It is completely guided as a meditation, with the intention of not falling asleep, but being consciously relaxed in an almost dream-like state.
It is a journey into your subconscious realms for deep healing, finding inner strength, clarity and relaxation.
There are so many benefits to practicing yoga nidra such as reduced stress and better sleep. It also will bring you a psychological feeling of wholeness, as you connect to every part of the body and your senses with complete and total awareness. It teaches you to surrender and let go through deep relaxation. It is in this space between wakefulness and sleeping where the body can be in its natural state of equilibrium.
What is Yoga Nidra?
WHAT HAPPENS IN A YOGA NIDRA CLASS?
Usually in a yoga nidra class, you are encouraged to lay comfortably on the ground on your yoga mat, with blankets and bolsters if necessary. Basically you will be in shavasana for 35-40 minutes. The instructor will help you relax deeply, as you settle into the pose.
At the beginning of the yoga nidra, you will be asked to set a sankalpa, your resolve, or conscious intention. It is like a positive seed planted in your mind, that you continue to nourish and grow each time you practice. It can be a short phrase or intentional goal, such as “I will continue to eat healthier everyday,” or “I practice self-love.”
The instructor will guide you through a body scan, as they list different parts of the body in order and ask you to bring your awareness to them. They will also make you aware of your breathing, and guide you through different feelings and sensations.
It is possible to have a lot of visualisations in your mind, but also to feel complete peace and non-attachment to anything coming up for you in your mind.
As you end the practice of yoga nidra, your instructor will bring you back into your body and current awareness.
After that, you will definitely feel extremely relaxed and even a bit ‘high’ from the practice.
Do not worry if you fall asleep when practicing yoga nidra for the first time, as it happens to many people whose bodies need deep rest.
Online Yoga Nidra
WHERE CAN I JOIN AN ONLINE YOGA NIDRA TEACHER TRAINING?
If this type of yoga interests you, and you would like to go deeper into the realms of your subconscious, then you can join our 50 hour Yoga Nidra Teacher Training. You will experience the power lying within the unconscious and subconscious aspects of yourself.
Watch your life transform in this online yoga nidra teacher training as you plant seeds of positive affirmations, and remove deeply rooted habits from your subconscious mind.
You will have lifelong access to this course and feel the confidence to share the beauty of this magic ‘yogic sleep’ practice to others.
