Yoga Nidra

In her book “Yoga Nidra,” Swami Satyananda Saraswati writes, “the term yoga nidra is derived from two Sanskirt words, yoga meaning union or one-pointed awareness, and nidra which means sleep.” The exact origins are difficult to trace, as yoga has been around for over 5,000 years. Yoga nidra is traditionally 30 minutes to an hour. I decided to make this a shorter version as an introduction that’s perhaps a bit less intimidating and more approachable for folks! As such, it doesn’t include all of the components, such as a sankulpa or intention.

I like to think of yoga nidra as a bit of a '“bath” for your nervous system. When we are overwhelmed and constantly on the go, our stress responses are activated. Yoga nidra is a way to “re-set” and bring you back to equilibrium. While it promotes relaxation, yoga nidra is so much more than relaxation! Calming the body down can assist with bringing clarity of mind that helps you better connect with the world around you and align towards your intentions.

While this practice can be great for stress management, it is best not to try this practice when you’re stress level is 8+ out of ten (with 0 being neutral and 10 being the most stress you can imagine), as it might just make you more frustrated to try and settle down! If this is a good time for you to practice, I recommend you get in a comfortable position, either lying down on your back or sitting in a reclined position.