Yoga Nidra

Yoga nidra is a gateway to a type of sleep that is powerfully healing and restorative. It is possible that 20-30 minutes of yoga nidra, can be equivalent to several hours of sleep. It’s a practice where a guide will talk you through points of awareness and imagery in order to gently bring the mind into a more cohesive and peaceful state. Sometimes we fall asleep in yoga nidra which is completely fine because sleep is healing and enjoyable. It is also possible that we can hover between sleep and wakefulness, aware yet unmoved by internal or external stimulus.

Wherever yoga nidra leads you, laying down supported on the floor and gently guiding the mind towards calm and steadiness has all the profound benefits of sleep.

Sometimes a ‘sankalpa’ is used. Which is the sanskrit term for setting an intention. Or orienting yourself towards a direction you want to go. This is a whole science in itself. The intent is to hold a positive vision in the form of a short sentence or two at the beginning of the practice, repeating it mentally and then letting it go during the practice and finally repeating it again at the end of the practice. When used correctly, this is akin to autosuggestion but the power is enhanced due to the altered state that yoga nidra can provide.

Even without all this theoretical background, you will see for yourself that it just feels so good that you will want to practice it everyday! If possible, having a regular practice will reap benefits over time. Maybe every day, maybe every 3 days, whatever it is, the consistency will bring you results both in the short and long term. Personally, I practice every afternoon and it is a demarkation between my morning and afternoon evening. It gives me the ability to bring a freshness to the second part of my day that I wouldn’t otherwise have.

There are many yoga nidra recordings, so try them out. Some of my favourites include those by Alison Eastland, Brenda Feuerstein and Rod Stryker. I’ve posted one of mine here.