Yoga Nidra
"Our essential nature is boundless consciousness. We are rooted in it when the mind focuses and settles."
​Patanjali, Yoga Sutras
What is Yoga Nidra?
"Yoga nidra, a Sanskrit term meaning "yogic sleep"
is a deep relaxation technique and a form of meditation.
Also called "psychic sleep," yoga nidra is a state between sleeping and waking. The body is completely relaxed and the practitioner turns the awareness inward by listening to a set of instructions; much like a guided meditation. Performing yoga nidra involves practicing pratyahara ("withdrawal of the senses"), which is the fifth limb of Ashtanga yoga.
Yoga nidra practice results in deep relaxation and expands the individual's self-awareness." -Yogapedia
The Practice of Yoga Nidra
The way that a Yoga Nidra practice is structured directly relates to the five Koshas, or 'The Five Layers of Being". Moving from the outermost layer, to the innermost
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The Physical Body - The layer made of food
The Breath Body - The layer made of energy
The Mental Body - The layer made of thoughts and emotions
The Wisdom Body - The layer made of intellect/ witness consciousness
The Casual Body - The layer made of bliss
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By guiding the practitioner through the 5 Koshas they aim to enter a deeply peaceful state, ultimately with the intention of accessing the atman, otherwise referred to as the authentic self, source energy, or our true nature. This process can take practice, but ultimately all forms of Yoga Nidra are beneficial.
What can I expect?
When we drop into this deeply relaxed state, like in hypnosis, we begin to access intuition and information from the subconscious mind. It's through bringing this information to the conscious that we begin the process of integration, finding that we experience great shifts in negative thought patterns and habits. Yoga Nidra is a powerful practice that brings about deep and personal insight into ones self, and radical transformation.
Yoga Nidra is scientifically proven to offer wonderful health benefits:
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Settling the mind
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Relaxes the body
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Increased concentration and presence
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Regulates the nervous system
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Boosts creativity
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Strengthens immunity
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Improves sleep quality
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Treats depression and anxiety
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Reduces pain
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Supports brain function
Yoga Nidra Offerings
To supplement our time together I offer 20-30 minute personalized Yoga Nidra recordings in addition to coaching the practitioner along their individual journey. I believe it is important to develop good 'spiritual hygiene' practices that will allow us to consistently check in with our bodies, become more conscious as individuals, and find more presence in our lives.