Yoga Nidra is a deep relaxation technique. The translation is yoga sleep and it takes you to that level of consciousness just before you drop into sleep.

There are many different approaches to Yoga Nidra and it’s often confused with other relaxation and guided imagery techniques.

In their article in the International Journal of Yoga Therapy – No 23 (1) | 2013 the authors suggest that:

“[Yoga nidra] represents a state in which an individual demonstrates all the symptoms of deep, non-REM sleep, including delta brain waves, while simultaneously remaining conscious.”

Most Yoga Nidra practices include several stages to relax the body, mind and emotions. These steps may include (but are not limited to):

• Intention

• Body awareness

• Breath awareness

• Emotional awareness

• Visualisation

• “Waking up” or re-integration

The idea is that each step takes you deeper into an altered state of consciousness – that state between asleep and awake – where you’re fully conscious but your body and mind are fully at rest and ease.

Studies suggest the practice of Yoga Nidra can have promising effects on:

• Sleep

• Stress & anxiety

• Depression

• Chronic pain

• Addiction

• Psychological trauma & PTSD in eg victims of sexual assault & veterans

• Self esteem & well being

• Awareness & focus

• Transforming negative habits, behaviours & ways of thinking

Practice Yoga Nidra at home…

These short Yoga Nidra practices from the Bihar Yoga Nidra book by Swami Satyananda Saraswati will help you start experiencing the technique before diving deeper into longer guided sessions.

Short Yoga Nidra 1

In this first short Yoga Nidra we move through rotation of consciousness, breath awareness and visualisation.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SHORT YOGA NIDRA AUDIO 1

Short Yoga Nidra 2

In this second short Yoga Nidra we move through rotation of consciousness, awareness of sensations and visualisation.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SHORT YOGA NIDRA AUDIO 2

Short Yoga Nidra 3 - NEW!

In this second short Yoga Nidra we move through rotation of consciousness, breath awareness and inner love visualisation.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SHORT YOGA NIDRA AUDIO 3

Enjoy!

Judi x

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