The Benefits of Yoga Nidra

yoga nidra class

Yoga nidra is a powerful and unique state of awareness in which the body profoundly relaxes, the thinking mind fades away, emotions seem to evaporate, alertness magnifies, and awareness becomes crisp and clear

Julie Lusk

Yoga nidra is also known as “yoga sleep.” It is the state between sleeping and dreaming. A transitional experience. It is done in the relaxation pose, shavasana. It combines breathing techniques (pranayama), sensory training and control (pratyahara), and meditation (dharana, dhyana, and smadhi). This progression naturally leads us into conscious deep relaxation. It is believed that one hour of yoga nidra is equivalent to four hours of regular sleep (Goel, 2001).

Pratyahara is a technique used to redirect sensory awareness from an external focus to an internal one. It is not withdrawal from living life. Instead, the process expands our awareness and we become more sensitized to living life more authentically. With practice, our senses are no longer outwardly active (noticing sounds, smells, etc.). When this happens, our attention naturally turns inward and we are lead into a natural state of inner concentration or meditation.

Yoga nidra gives us space and tools, via the koshas, to understand and experience our true Self. Through a systematic process, our senses move inward and past each of the kosha layers, bringing us into profound relaxation and renewal.