Yoga Master Class - Yoga Nidra, The Art of Rest

Yoga nidra is psychic sleep, or in other words ‘sleep with full awareness’. During yoga nidra the body sleeps, but the mind remains awake listening to the guided instructions.

Yoga nidra is a powerful, ancient form of guided meditation from the school of tantric yoga. The practice of yoga nidra induces deep restful relaxation and healing of the body, mind and spirit. Unlike regular yoga practice where you move your body through a series of postures, yoga nidra is done lying down on the floor, or sitting in a chair and keeping the body still.

Yoga nidra is one of the yogic practices of 'Pratyahara', which means withdrawal of the mind from the sensory experience. It is a profound experience where conscious awareness is internalized, and your body becomes completely relaxed. It is a practice that is not commonly taught in mainstream yoga classes, it is mainly reserved for specialized classes or workshops.

The benefits of yoga nidra are immense, and students of all levels can enjoy it. Even as a beginner, you will soon develop the mental discipline required to keep your mind engaged and focused in the exercise without feeling too restless.

The yogic goal of both paths, yoga nidra and meditation are the same, to reach a state we yogi's call 'samadhi'. Samadhi is a state of oneness, the perfect union of the soul with the infinite divine spirit. It is the complete absorption of self with the divine, and a turning away from the illusions of the physical world. Samadhi is the ultimate goal of the yogi.

Yoga Nidra is hands down, one of my favorite yoga practices. It is a deeply restful exercise, of which its effect is a state of being of which, can help you cultivate feel a deep sense of calm relaxation.

Maintaining a feeling of calm amidst of the hustle and bustle the day can be challenging, considering the amount of stress people are subjected to these days. It's become a normal, albeit 'unhealthy' part of the daily grind. A practice like yoga nidra would be deeply beneficial for both body and mind alike, when it comes to curbing the negative effects of stress upon the body, mind and emotions.

Cultivating your daily mental and physical wellness is worth a shot, no matter how busy you are, and getting feelings of stress and anxiety under control and is definitely attainable. However, you have to commit small daily actions that will steer you toward your wellbeing. Yoga nidra can help you, and it really doesn't take much effort! All you have to do is rest.

I know how challenging it can be to allow yourself to rest in this action oriented world, and developing a practice of letting go, and allowing in periods of deep rest in body and mind really is an art. It's a practice. It is necessary, to allow yourself periods of stillness and quietude. I have learnt over the years, that action that I made from a place of alignment, from restful stillness first, produces more inspired and desirable results. This way of being/doing is quite the opposite of what we have been taught. To hustle and grind.

If you are interested in knowing more about yoga nidra, and want to try it for yourself, then stay tuned for my meditation program due to be released soon. It will definitely feature a guided yoga nidra meditation for you to try. Don't miss it!

Until next time....

Be Realistic, Daydream often.

Ashleigh XO