What is Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra is a lesser known but increasingly popular part of yoga.  It was developed about 3000 years ago, about the same time as the asana poses.  Its purpose is to still or quiet the mind to allow for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.   It doesn’t require a particular level of skill or flexibility.  It doesn’t require special clothing or equipment.  It doesn’t require years of lessons.  It’s so easy you can’t do it wrong.

Tension is a part of human life.  It is unlikely that any of us have a day without tension.  Things happen that lead to tension.  Thoughts happen that lead to tension.  When tension is balanced with relaxation we are able to rest, sleep and feel calm.

Unfortunately, relaxation is not emphasized in our society and even when it is there is often an association with alcohol, drugs or other habits and addictions.  Many of us forget how to relax even with those things and some don’t even relax when sleeping.

Yoga Nidra is a series of guided meditation techniques.  By listening to the voice of your guide you will become progressively more relaxed over the course of just a few minutes.  Your brain waves will slow, just as they do during a normal sleep cycle but in much less time.  And when your guide leads you out of the experience the energy will have shifted within your body and you will feel not just relaxed but energized as well.

A well trained and certified guide can lead you through a very generalized Yoga Nidra for calmness and peace.  The guide can also create a Yoga Nidra to target a specific condition including:  insomnia; pain; anxiety; depression; habits and addictions; relationship issues; a strong immune system; and Just about any chronic condition, illness or injury.

You can listen to a Yoga Nidra at any time of the day or night, sitting back or lying down.  It should never be done while or immediately prior to driving.   You may feel like you fell asleep but usually people don’t.  And if you do fall asleep, you can just listen to your Yoga Nidra again at another time.