Releasing Stress with Yoga Nidra
Yoga nidra, often called yogic sleep, is a guided meditative practice. The practice is meant to calm the nervous system, promote deep relaxation, and improve sleep. Thanks to our hustle and bustle lifestyles, many of us spend much of our lives in a fight or flight state of being. Yoga nidra calms our mind while encouraging a rest and restoring state of being.
Most people would agree that stress is a common problem in our daily modern lives. Stress has been proven to contribute to numerous health problems. Likewise, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and burnout are some of the many symptoms associated with a life of prolonged stress.
A consistent practice of yoga nidra may just be your ticket to feeling more refreshed and renewed. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of this practice. In addition, I have also included a free 20 minute guided yoga nidra recording below.
Yoga Nidra Benefits
- Improvement of thinking patterns (allows detachment from negative thought patterns).
- Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Reduced insomnia and better quality of sleep.
- Improved memory and cognitive function
- Increases confidence and self-esteem (allowing for a deep connection with self).
- Improves symptoms of chronic pain and tension.
- Proven beneficial for post-traumatic stress disorder and improves physical health. See more about the IRest Progam HERE, which is endorsed and utilized by the US Army Surgeon General and Veteran Administration, for complementary treatment of PTSD.
- Interested in learning more concerning the clinical research of Yoga Nidra? See this LINK.
Tips For a Successful Yoga Nidra Practice
- Practice lying or reclining on your back with your whole body heavy and relaxed on the surface beneath you.
- A quiet room with no distractions is ideal.
- Use any props that help you relax. For example, a pillow under your head and knees, a blanket for warmth, possibly an eye pillow to block out light. A yoga nidra nest of sorts!
- There is no right or wrong way to practice yoga nidra. If you happen to fall asleep, that is okay, that is what your body needs at the moment.
- Remember to follow my voice in the guided recording without attachment. Allow my words to float over your awareness.
- If your mind begins to wander, just redirect it back to my voice and the rhythm of your breath.
“You do not need to seek freedom in some distant land, for everything already exists within your own body, heart, mind, and soul.” BYS Iyengar
20 Minute Yoga Nidra to Calm The Nervous System
Final Thoughts
When I started my yoga teacher training I had never heard of yoga nidra. The technique immediately intrigued me. In fact, it is said that 45 minutes of yoga nidra is as restorative as 3 hours of sleep! I reflected on my years of working in the healthcare industry and imagined how this practice could be beneficial for folks struggling with chronic illness.
We live in a time of doing instead of being. Production is at the forefront of most of our lives. Yoga nidra allows us the gift of quieting the mind and sinking into a state of deep rest and relaxation. I encourage you to incorporate the practice of yoga nidra into your life. Without question, it has helped me immensely and could possibly help you too!
Interested in learning more? Read another one of my articles about yoga nidra Here.
