Since I am going to be hosting a workshop about Yoga Nidra this coming week. I thought I would share with you why I find it to be such an important practice.
The definition of Yoga Nidra is derived from 2 Sanskrit words, yoga meaning union or to yoke, and Nidra meaning sleep. So it is typically defined as psychic sleep, or yogic sleep. Though this practice may resemble sleep;it is actually the state between sleep and wakefulness. Your body may be still and other sense organs subdued; but you are still conscious, using your auditory senses as your teacher or CD guides you through the practice. This is a powerful technique in which you learn to relax consciously. That means physically, mentally, and emotionally.
So why is this practice so important? Well, we live in a world that is fast paced, over taxed, extreme with overstimulation, lots of expectations and stress, and the list goes on! So we are plagued with stress related disorders such as PTSD, diabetes, over eating, addiction, violence, psychological disorders, hypertension, migraines, asthma, ulcers, digestive disorders as well as heart disease and cancer, that stem from tension being manifested physically. So how can we help ourselves when we are being challenged with stress from all angles? Learning to deal with this tension by changing our ideals and the way we think and feel. When we can balance our tension we can balance our emotions, anger and health.
When we practice yoga nidra we are relaxing and restructuring ourselves from the inside out. In order to have peace on the outside, we must manifest peace on the inside.
The process begins with preparing the body for stillness. Focusing physically on the different parts of the body and mentally relaxing them. Then we make our Resolve. The resolve or Sankalpa is where we "sow the seeds of change" so to speak. The Sankalpa is a positive short mental statement which is impressed on the subconscious mind when it is receptive and sensitive to suggestion. It is made by the person practicing yoga nidra; and NOT by the teacher. So you are the one to decide what resolve you need. This is a very powerful practice. To be taken with great care, for it creates great change when practiced consistently. Then the practice continues with breath awareness. This helps to bring continued physical relaxation. Next is relaxation on the level of feelings and emotions. They are recalled and awakened to be experienced fully and then removed. Then moving onto Visualization which induces mental relaxation and developing self awareness. You then begin to end the practice by repeating your resolve or Sankalpa fertilizing those seeds that were planted in the beginning. Then bringing yourself back to consciousness.
There are several different options out there for practicing yoga nidra. I hope that you will give it a try so that it can help you in living a life filled with more peace, joy and health. If practiced daily or just a few times a week, it can really create amazing change in your life. I know from experience what the effects can do when I practice consistently. And that is the key, Practice, Practice, Practice! :)
So join me Saturday September 27th at Wilmington Yoga Center for my Yoga Nidra Workshop 9:30-11:30 a.m. if you are in the area. If not I hope you find a teacher near you or a cd online that is helpful.
I will be having one of my own available soon. So be looking for it to be posted here on the website!
OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Jess
