Yoga Nidra, a specific form of relaxation meditation owes its roots in ancient tantras, but in its present form, it has been devised by the realized Guru Swami Satyanand Saraswati.
Yog Nidra is recommended to be done while lying down on a bed or on a mat on the floor though some may find it better to do it in a sitting position.
The time duration of Yog Nidra varies between 15 minutes to 45 minutes depending on how deep one wants to enter into meditation.
No expert or expert guidance is required to do Yoga Nidra. It is advisable to use any guided Yoga Nidra Meditations whichever you may like and just follow the instructions while hearing the guided meditation.
The frequency of doing Yoga Nidra should be at least once a day preferably before sleeping. You can also do short Yog Nidra sessions 2-3 times a day if you can take out the time.
It is best practiced after doing Yoga and Pranayam when its effect would be very powerful.
A Sankalpa is to be taken at the beginning of Yoga Nidra practice and also repeated at the end of the practice. It is a very powerful practice of Sankalpa. Sankalpa is like a seed that we plant in our subconscious brain. This can then lead to the fulfillment of our desire for which we had taken the Sankalpa.
It is a powerful technique to relax consciously. In fact, sleep is not regarded as relaxation. True relaxation is actually an experience far beyond sleep. For absolute relaxation, one must remain aware. Yoga Nidra is the state of dynamic sleep. It is a systematic method of inducing complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. The term Yoga Nidra is derived from two Sanskrit words, yoga meaning union or one-pointed awareness, and Nidra which means sleep. During the practice of Yoga Nidra, one appears to be asleep, but the consciousness is functioning at a deeper level of awareness. That is why Yoga Nidra is also referred to as psychic sleep or deep relaxation with inner awareness. It is in the threshold state between sleep and wakefulness, contact with the subconscious and unconscious happens spontaneously.
In yoga nidra, the state of relaxation is reached by turning inwards. If the consciousness can be separated from external awareness and from sleep, it becomes very powerful and can develop memory, increase knowledge and creativity, or transform one’s nature.
In the Ashtanga yoga of Patanjali, there is a state called pratyahara where the mind and mental awareness are dissociated from the sensory channels. Yoga nidra is one aspect of Pratyahara which leads to the higher states of concentration and samadhi.
The intuitions received in yoga nidra enable one to find within himself the answers to all problems.
Some people may find bodily or physical pain while doing yoga Nidra. It is because sometimes when our body is deeply relaxed,
One’s true nature and integrity manifest, enabling him to live a meaningful and peaceful life in any environment.
Try the Yoga Nidra Meditation given below for 21 days and experience the powerful positive changes within you and your life!!
