The Renewal of Yoga Nidra
Written by: Matthew Lyons
Perhaps you’ve seen Yoga Nidra on the schedule and the loose translation of the Sanskrit term as — yogic sleep — and thought to yourself “A guided sleep meditation. I’m in!” Well, while the intent of the practice is not to fall asleep (though it often happens), the good news is that you will likely come away from the practice of Yoga Nidra feeling relaxed, rested, and perhaps renewed.
The concept of Yoga Nidra has been around for hundreds of years and there are many lineages of the practice. Though each lineage presents slight differences in the approach to the practice, what is consistent is the goal of offering a meditative experience that leads you to deep, relaxed state. A state that falls between wakefulness and sleeping. In the practice, your body is completely relaxed as you are guided inward on a journey of awareness and sensation. Thus, while taking this journey of Yoga Nidra you effortless take a journey through several limbs of yoga — pranayama (breath awareness), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), and dharana (concentration).
In a Yoga Nidra class, we will take a few minutes at the beginning to discuss how things unfold. We will sometimes start with some gentle movement to prepare the body for the practice. Other times, I will open the class with a seated meditation. You will then be invited to lie down for the practice. I will offer some suggestions and tips for creating a comfortable “nest,” as well as provide options if you are not comfortable or able to lie down for the practice. From that point on, all you have to do is lie down (or sit back) and listen. You will be guided for about 30-35 minutes on a journey of awareness of the most tangible sensations, sensing your body and your breath, and then delving deeper to notice the more/most subtle sensations of peace, joy, spaciousness, equanimity, oneness, and wholeness.
Yoga Nidra helps calm the mind, the nervous system, and relaxes the body. Some of the benefits of a consistent Yoga Nidra practice include decreased anxiety and stress, soothes chronic pain, lowers blood pressure, eases insomnia and promotes higher-quality sleep. If this sounds comforting and inviting, I hope you will join me on Saturdays evenings from 7 - 8 pm for a deeply relaxing practice.