Yoga Nidra – (Sanskrit for Yogic Sleep).

Yoga Nidra is both the name of a state and of a practice, which creates an altered state of consciousness.

Yoga Nidra, whilst Tantric in origin, can be classified as part of the Raja System’s eight limbs of Yoga, with no less than three of the eight limbs of Yoga being present in its practice.

It is a form of Yoga which brings about powerful relaxation and was developed by Swami Satyananda of the ‘Bihar School of Yoga’

One hour of Yoga Nidra, is reportedly the equivalent of 4 hours of normal sleep, which is astounding.

When we talk of Yoga Nidra, we are implying a state of one the deepest types of relaxation available, without the use of any mostly toxic chemical substances e.g. alcohol or drugs.

 What does the practice of Yoga Nidra involve?

Perhaps one should first think about relaxation per se, as it differs so vastly from one individual to the next.

For some it may be a glass of red wine or a walk in nature, for others a good book with a cup of milky tea might be a source of peace or it could be simply listening to some favourite music.

Yet, what does it really mean, “To be deeply relaxed”?

Yoga Nidra attempts to deal with the challenges of our busy lives. Lives where the glorification of ‘being busy’ rules supreme. Lives where deep and proper relaxation at the end of the day is as elusive as smoky breath on a frozen window pane. Sadly the the greater population is unaware of, either in their fast paced or sedentary lifestyles.

In Yoga Nidra, deep relaxation will have no sensory interruption; it allows the experience of everything in the  void (so called) and that which is outside of your ‘normal’ awake state; it requires active awareness within the physical relaxation.

Yoga Nidra should last around 30 minutes or more, it is sometimes included at the end of practice session and is generally practiced with use of the ‘Savasana’ or ‘Corpse’ pose.

 Some elements of Yoga Nidra include:

 Rotation of Consciousness

This is when the practitioner moves awareness around the various parts of the body. This assists in allowing a deep connection to the physical self away from the cognitive (perceived) self.

‘Sankulpa’

A unique feature of Yoga Nidra is ‘Sankulpa” which is a positive intention or resolve which is stated at the onset and at the end of a practice session.

These can lead to profound shifts in one’s life and are similar to modern day affirmations which have gained popularity all over the world.

Withdrawal of the senses

A state which is found in classic Yoga scripture is that of ‘pratyahana’; it is the 5^th state of the 8 limbs of Yoga; it is when the cognitive awareness is completely disassociated from the sensory channels. It leads to a higher state of consciousness and for the advanced student even ‘Samadhi’ – John Daido, a Soto Zen teacher explained this state as such :-

“Samadhi is a state consciousness that lies beyond waking, dreaming, or deep sleep. It’s a slowing down of our mental activity, through single-pointed concentration”.

 

Benefits of Yoga Nidra

There are a multitude of benefits to be found in the practice of Yoga Nidra including:

•    Reduced stress levels
•    Less anxiety
•    Assisting with psychosomatic disorders i.e. cancer, hypertension or asthma
•    Increased and focused willpower
•    Improved sleep patterns and a lessening of insomnia

A pertinent point to remember is that Yoga Nidra is not meditation. Meditation is usually practiced in the sitting position and can prove extremely challenging for people with active minds.

Yoga Nidra as previously mentioned is done whilst lying down, this is what enables for most people a shift into a semi-hypnotic state.

It can genuinely be said that Yoga Nidra is rarely a challenge in the beginning stages for physically and mentally active people and is very suitable for those who simply “cannot sit still”.