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12.10.2022
Yoga Nidra is a type of guided meditation based on ancient teachings that have been made accessible for modern lifestyles. It is deeply relaxing and helps us to enhance our physical and mental wellbeing. Yoga Nidra can help with a wide range of conditions ranging from stress, insomnia, chronic pain and fatigue to PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
When we are tired, we might just collapse on the sofa and have a relaxing evening watching a movie or reading a book. This is a lovely way to enjoy some downtime, but it is not the conscious relaxation that we get from Yoga Nidra.
We can easily get into a habit of living in a state of low-grade tension. This tension can remain with us even when we are relaxing or trying to sleep. Yoga Nidra helps to soothe the nervous system and brings a deep sense of ease throughout our body which in turn helps us to relax and improves the quality of our sleep.
Part of the beauty of Yoga Nidra is that you don’t need to have done yoga before, or even to be interested in doing yoga postures. You don’t need any special props or equipment. You can practise it lying down (or seated if you prefer) and although it is guided, everything is an invitation; you can follow the meditation or just decide to let it wash over you. Like other yoga practices, the benefits of Yoga Nidra build up over time as you become more familiar with the techniques.
There are several different approaches to Yoga Nidra but a basic Yoga Nidra session starts with finding a comfortable position for the practice. You might then be invited to set an intention for your practice. This intention is completely up to you; it might be to relax, to improve your health, or something else that bubbles up into your thoughts. You then follow the guided meditation and return to the intention towards the end of the session.
Once you are settled, you are guided through a body scan and a breath awareness meditation. Longer sessions might guide you to compare opposites of sensations in the body (such as feeling warm and cool, or heavy and light). There may be further invitations to compare opposites of feelings and emotions as you move through the practice. You decide what you want to work with and which invitations you want to accept throughout the meditation. Towards the end of the practice, you will revisit your intention and spend a little time observing the benefits of the relaxation. You are then gently invited to take a few stretches and ease yourself back into the day.
The practice can be tailored to you and to areas with which you want to work. The comparison of opposites gently helps you to build up resilience in areas that may create some degree of stress or discomfort for you.
I trained to teach Yoga Nidra with Anne Douglas. It was inspiring. Anne has over 30 years of teaching experience, including being Director of Training for the iRest Institute, in addition to having her own Yoga Therapy practice and running several other training courses. Anne is a great teacher and I jumped at the chance to work with her. The way I teach Yoga Nidra has been inspired by Anne and her many years of experience.
If you would like to try a Yoga Nidra session, or you would like some more information about how it may be of help to you, please get in touch to arrange a chat.
Thank you to my dear friend Milena for letting me use her relaxing sunset photo.
