What is Yoga Nidra?

5 years ago, whilst at my Yoga Teacher training, I experienced the wonders of Yoga Nidra for the first time.

I wasn’t sure if my body and mind had ever felt so grounded and relaxed in my life.

So I was curious…what had happened?

After further enquiry, I found that research has shown a 30-minute yoga nidra practice is equivalent to 2-4 hours of sleep!

Umm wait what…a shortcut to sleep?

Something that gives me more of the most precious of resources – Time and Sleep.

So what is Yoga Nidra and what is happening?

Yoga Nidra is a meditation practise.

You lie down on your back, put a pillow or blanket under your head and listen to a specialised guided meditation.

Then, from listening to the guidance of the teachers voice, you move into a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping.

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You are no longer in the waking state of consciousness.

You move past the dreaming state of consciousness.

And drop into the deep sleep state.
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Essentially, you end up dancing in the transition between the conscious and unconscious minds.

The practise encourages us to stay dancing in this space for an extended period of time, without waking up or actually falling asleep.

Setting intentions

A core part of the practise is intention setting.

You set a conscious intention at the beginning of the practise.

Then let go and allow for deep relaxation of the body, mind and emotions.

This allows your unconscious mind to open up to new ways of thinking, healing, and fulfilling your conscious intentions.

Who is it for?

Absolutely anyone can practise Yoga Nidra.

If you want to experience deeper levels of meditation, this one is for you.

What are the benefits of Yoga Nidra?

–        aid better sleep

–        relieve stress

–        Heal psychological wounds. It has been applied by the US Army to assist soldiers to recover from post traumatic stress disorder

–        promotes health and well-being

Lastly, because Yoga Nidra allow us to connect to the unconscious mind, it can aid healing and release of blockages that you might not be aware of, or that have been on-going challenges in your life.

Where do I go next?

Download a free Yoga Nidra meditation here