Yoga Nidra, often translated as “yogic sleep,” is a powerful relaxation and meditation technique originating from the ancient Indian tradition of yoga. Despite its name, Yoga Nidra isn’t actually about falling asleep; rather, it’s a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping, where the body is completely relaxed, but the mind is still alert and aware. In this state, practitioners experience deep relaxation, rejuvenation, and often tap into their subconscious mind for healing and transformation.
Yoga Nidra is a deep state of conscious relaxation that is attained by the individual using this ancient yogic therapy. It involves gradually shifting our focus from the outer world to the world within. Yoga Nidra is known for its numerous benefits, including stress reduction, improved sleep, enhanced creativity, increased self-awareness, and deep emotional healing. Regular practice of Yoga Nidra can have profound effects on both physical and mental well-being, making it a valuable tool for holistic health and personal growth.
In Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu is often depicted as resting on the cosmic serpent Shesh (Adi Shesha) in the ocean of milk during the intervals between his incarnations. This state of rest symbolizes the preservation aspect of Vishnu’s role in maintaining cosmic order and balance. Similarly, in Yoga Nidra, practitioners aim to enter a state of deep relaxation that resembles a state of restful awareness, akin to Vishnu’s cosmic repose.
Moreover, Yoga Nidra is often associated with the concept of Laya Yoga, which emphasizes dissolution and merging of individual consciousness with the universal consciousness. In this sense, one can draw parallels between the practitioner’s journey during Yoga Nidra and Vishnu’s role as the preserver who maintains the cosmic order while simultaneously transcending it.
Additionally, in some interpretations, Lord Vishnu is seen as the embodiment of Satva Guna, the quality of purity, harmony, and balance. Similarly, the practice of Yoga Nidra aims to cultivate a state of deep inner peace, harmony, and equanimity, aligning with the qualities associated with Vishnu.
What happens during Yog nidra?
Yoga Nidra is a deep state of conscious relaxation that can enable us in managing daily stress and anxiety. It generates a deep sleep wherein our sensations, mind, and body are at peace. As a result, the body enters a state of healing as the brain activity decreases. Due to this, yog nidra possess the power to provide an individual with a relaxation of hours of sleep in just few minutes. It can detox the body at the molecular level, refresh the mind, and relieve mental stress while the body transitions into a therapeutic phase.
Yog nidra helps to achieve calm and relaxing condition of mind and body. Our inner, happy, and eternal Self is accessible from this phase, where we can recover, rejuvenate, and heal. As more and more people discover its therapeutic benefits, this wonderful technique is getting popular throughout the rest of the world.
Steps of Yog nidra
Step-1: Set an intention before doing Yog nidra. Why do you want to do it? For getting rid of body ache, stress, unwanted negative thoughts or you just want to do it as a part of your daily routine. Whatever the intention is, it should be clear in your mind before starting the session.
Step-2: scanning your body. You’ll be instructed to concentrate on specific areas of the body or sensations while undergoing a body scan. This is intended to aid in easing tension so that you could relax.
Step-3: Focus on the way airflow enters and exits your body. Pay attention to how it enters through your nose and how the stomach moves up and down. Your breathing will become steadier as a result of this.
Step-4: If today was difficult, accept it. Although you don’t have to think about the difficult things, by acknowledging them you may also consider the opposite of the sensation you are experiencing to bring things back to balance. Observe your thoughts as they arise without dismissing or attempting to suppress them. If you find yourself thinking anything unpleasant about yourself, try to focus on the positive to reduce stress.
Step-5: When you begin to experience peace, absorb it and allow it to fill your entire being. Be conscious of your temperament and any potential emotions. So think of yourself as a witness who is watching. You’ll become more awake and in touch with your emotions as a result.
Step-6: When the session is over, reflect on how you are feeling and what you were able to obtain. Lastly, consider how you may bring any peace or joy into your everyday life. Take your time leaving your session. Re-enter the conscious state of existence by giving yourself some time.
For best results, it is recommended to use pre-recorded sessions, which are available on the internet. Guided sessions help you not to fall asleep during the process and also keep a tab on the time.
Benefits of Yog nidra
In our modern lives, stress is a constant and it depletes our energy, and robs the organs and the brain of the resources they need to function. Thus, regular Yog nidra practice enables the body to enter even deeper stages of healing and renewal. It also helps us with better concentration. Yoga nidra is a technique where we learn to maintain attention on the instructions while shifting our consciousness to various body areas and feelings. As we strive to follow the directions, we maintain drawing the mind back towards the exercise even though it initially wanders. With regular practice, we can focus on the instructions for longer periods of time while the mind becomes less distractible. We also enhance our memory and capacity for information retention. We free up mental space when our subconscious purges unneeded items and information overload, which makes it more active and clear.
