Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra or Psychic Sleep is a powerful deep relaxation practice for the mind and body. I like to think of it as a complete sensory work out for the brain as the ‘rotation of awareness’ part of the practice or ‘journey around the body’ activates all the main nerve pathways in the brain, improves energy flow to the brain and helps release muscular and nervous tension.
If you have a very active ‘thinking’ right brain and, let’s face it, most of us do, this practice will help you feel much more grounded and embodied in who you are and what is important for you to be and do. It will help you become much more aware of your subconscious mind and creative left-brain potential and you will see how both sides of the brain can be harnessed to help you achieve your goals and empower positive changes in your personality or life direction. You will begin to develop the powerful aspect of the mind that is able to witness and observe without judgement and analysis.
It is the unconscious and subconscious mind that drives much of what we think, say and do and this part of the mind is much more receptive and easily programmable when we are deeply relaxed.
During Yoga Nidra, the para sympathetic (rest and digest) part of the autonomic nervous system is activated and brain waves slow down to the alpha state - the borderline between awake and sleep.
During Yoga Nidra you are encouraged to stay ‘awake and aware’ ‘consciously dreaming’ but most of us especially if we are tired will drift in and out of the waking and dream state and this is Ok too.
If you practise regularly, you will experience a greater sense of calm and ease (reduced physical, mental and emotional tension), deeper more restorative sleep, greater willpower and memory recall and enhanced creative and intuitive potential.
According to Swami Satyananda (1998) the founder of what we now call Yoga Nidra “a single hour of Yoga Nidra is as restful as four hours of conventional sleep”
Other physiological benefits include reduced heart rate and blood pressure, improved immune functioning, reduced levels of cholesterol, and lower levels of the stress hormones adrenalin and cortisol.
Yoga Nidra can be practised by anyone with a central nervous system! It is great for children and teenagers as well as older people or people with disabilities or serious illness, such as those suffering from cancer.
It can be practised lying down supported by cushions and or bolsters or seated in a chair. Pregnant women can also practise by lying on their sides with plenty of cushions/pillows for support.
If you are someone who finds meditation or ‘stillness’ difficult it could be just what you need in order to feel more grounded and peaceful.
During the practice you will be asked to recall and repeat your Sankalpa or sacred vow.
Sankalpa is a short positive statement of intent about 4-8 words long, personal to you of something that you would like to create or transform within some aspect of your life be it material, emotional, spiritual or psychological. Most Sankalpa’s start with I am... I am becoming more... I will..
30-minute online YN deep relaxation sessions are held weekly on Monday evenings at 8.30pm. All you need is a yoga mat if you have one, and a cushion and blanket to cover yourself with.
These sessions are £7.50 and I donate a third of the money to charity; currently the British Red Cross to support their Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
Please email me for the Zoom link if you would like to join.
Site by Adam Morris 2024