An Ancient Yogic Practice For Deep Relaxation and Personal Transformation
Although many people are drawn to yoga to stretch and strengthen their bodies, practitioners quickly discover the benefits run deeper and wider, calming the mind and creating a deep sense of peace in the spirit. As a result of dedicated practice, yogis begin to experience the meditation and bliss of deep relaxation during restorative postures and Savasana. People may discover that they are working with the asanas (postures) to move into a deeper state of meditation. Over time, yogis will often set aside time to meditate after a physical practice to experience the deep release that comes from sitting or lying in stillness.
The lesser known practice of Yoga Nidra often skips the physical postures and begins in a Savasana. Beginning with a body scan, the instructor invites a state of relaxed awareness, guiding the person or group deep into their bodies. Throughout the practice, yogis will experience a liminal meditative state between sleep and wakefulness.
Yoga Nidra takes the concept of deep relaxation and merges the practice with meditation.
Also known as dynamic or psychic sleep, Yoga Nidra is a method that takes practitioners through the eightfold path leading to Samadhi (Bliss). Although it appears like the practitioner is not doing anything at all, Yoga Nidra is often considered to be a more advanced practice than intensely physical yoga methods, requiring a deep sense of focus and willingness to be with one’s self.
Like the physical, asana practice we are all enjoy so much, the benefits of Yoga Nidra run deep. Discover the top three benefits and power of this ancient practice.
Transformational Powers
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”―Albert Einstein
During Yoga Nidra sessions, people begin to access their subconscious mind and memories. It is often these repressed memories and experiences that create blockages in our bodies and in our lives. As people enter the state of relaxed awareness, their brain becomes more open and flexible. With the guidance of an experienced instructor, past traumas can be digested, moved-through and transformed.
Healing from Overeating & Addictive Patterns
Alongside the incredible benefits of modern-day society comes a slew of addictive behaviors and tendencies that affect individuals and families. Our fast-paced life can lead us to disassociate from our bodies and overemphasize the power of our minds. This disconnection can manifest in our bodies and minds as:
- A mild imbalance such as pushing through pain and causing injury
- Overeating or underrating due to our inability to feel our body’s signals for hunger and fullness
- A full-blown addiction or disorder
Research shows that people with imbalanced and addictive tendencies have low activity in the area of the brain that regulates interceptive awareness― our ability to recognize and understand sensations in our bodies.
Yoga Nidra heals and regulates this part of the brain. With elevated levels of sensory awareness, you will find yourself more connected to the signals coming from your body, including appetite, emotional cues, and pain or pleasure. With the support of Yoga Nidra, you can change unwanted behaviors and reclaim your life.
Boosts the Body’s Natural Capacity to Heal & Renew
The restorative benefits of Yoga Nidra are mind-blowing― it has been said that one hour of Yoga Nidra is the equivalent of four hours of deep sleep. As you know, deep sleep allows the body to heal and regenerate. During Yoga Nidra, the body maximizes it’s ability to take in nutrients, regulate hormones and glucose levels, and boost immunity. By stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest & digest system”), the mind quiets and your body begins to heal itself, naturally.