Yoga Nidra
Table of Contents
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is a Sanskrit word that means ‘yogic sleep.’ In yogic practices, it is effortless, superconscious sleep. Yogic sleep is the art of reaching the highest level of self-awareness.
Joga Nidra is highly suitable for all yoga practitioners and significantly changes daily life. It differs from regular sleep in which a practitioner is awake and aware of his inner self.
What happens during Yoga Nidra Meditation?
Yoga Nidra for sleep meditation is a form of guided meditation that visualizes the most profound state of meditation. It starts at the conscious level and moves to the superconsciousness level. During nidra meditation, each person has different experiences.
Yoga beginners experience a different experience in another state of mind. Joga Nidra brings a lot of wisdom and a sense of revealing the ultimate truth.
During our Yoga Teacher Training and 14-day yoga and meditation retreat programs, we encourage our students to attain the highest level of this ancient practice.
Where do Yog Nidra and Meditation come from?
India is the origin of yoga practices, and the six philosophies of Hinduism are the primary source of Yog Nidra. Patanjali formulated this practice in simple code. Sankhya’s philosophy describes Yog Nidra well.
Yoga sleep was a leading practice in the Indian subcontinent for strengthening physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Vedanta philosophy and Kashmir Shaivism also have texts on yoga nidra and meditation.
How to do Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is one of the most accessible practices of yoga fundamentals. A certified yoga teacher does this practice. Joga Nidra takes about 30 minutes to 45 minutes, and it is practised in this formation: –
- Practice Nadi Shodan pranayama for 5 minutes to calm the nerves.
- Lie down in corpse pose or savasana and take a rest.
- Please align your physical body and stay at ease.
- Start to focus on prana and relax the mind.
- Sohum breathing is very effective in yoga nidra. When you inhale, feel the vibrations of So (I am), and during exhalation, practice Hum (that).
- Your mind will be steady, and the frequencies will be low in intensity, and you will be capable of attaining a state of consciousness.
- Consistency in practice is a significant challenge. To progress further, deep silence will be required.
- You may feel the sensation of internal body parts and the organs by which the concentration will be improved.
- Now, you may start feeling the colours of chakras and their presence. This is almost similar to Reiki and Jin Shin Jyutsu healings.
- There will be a state when your mind is entirely focused, and you may easily disconnect your senses from other matters.
Four Stages of The Consciousness(Chetna)
Particular yogic sleep or Yoga Nidra for sleep stages are practised to expand our Chetna or consciousness. These above are the stages to practice Yog Nidra Meditation:
- The conscious state, or Jagrat Awastha, is the start of practising Yogic Nidra, in which a person is fully awake in the senses. At this point, a seeker can quickly feel physical appearance.
- Sleeping state or Nidra Awastha: A Sadhaka enters a sleeping state after breaking the external link. In this state, the physical appearance has disappeared.
- Dreamy state or Swapan Awastha: A dreamy state is considered a sub-conscious level of meditation in which a practitioner is attaining a higher spirit.
- Super-consciousness or Turiya Awastha: At this level, a Sadhaka is considered fully physically, mentally, and emotionally stable. This is the highest state of meditation to attain Ananda or bliss.
Stages of Yoga Nidra Meditation
Yog Nidra is a deep state of self-awakening in which a practitioner enters to identify the objectives and to have a broad understanding of the self. It is practised in this hierarchy:
- To be present: This is the first practice as a Sadhaka (practitioner) realizes his physical formation to practice yogic sleep.
- Connect with the universe: A seeker is fully aware of the goals, only to connect with nature and to turn inward.
- Pranic presence: A person would identify the breathing pattern and work on abnormal breathing to the vital force.
- Sub-conscious state of mind: Now a Sadhaka moves inwards and takes off all the sense’s insight for having the sensation of a sub-conscious state of mind.
- Dreamy state: After connecting with the sub-conscious state of mind, it is possible that the person would enter towards sleep. A lot of universal connections appear in this state of practice.
- Self-awakening: There is a call during this state of mind, which makes the sensations of the deepest layer of the mind. This state is considered as the visualization of the self.
- Turiya state of mind: It is the top state of yogic sleep in which the mind stays calm, and the consciousness attains the top level. At this level, it is very easy to travel astrally and roam around without carrying the physical body.
- Neutral state: After transmitting to all the areas, a practitioner returns to the state of having the existence of the physical body.
Yoga Nidra Benefits:
Yog Nidra has a deep work on an individual. In regular practice, a person can quickly identify many experiences and improve his capabilities. The main benefits of yoga nidra are as follows:
- It is very effective after practising yoga asanas to rest the body’s nervous system.
- Yog Nidra brings clarity to thoughts, and it gives a clear vision.
- It is highly suitable for attaining the most profound state of meditation.
- It improves the concentration level.
- People suffering from migraines and high BP should practice yoga nidra daily.
- It activates the brain cells, which sharpens memory.
- Someone who is suffering from insomnia may practice it before bed.
- Yogic sleep activates all the chakras, making it suitable for cleansing the body’s chakra system.
- Yogic nidra is one of the best ways to attain samadhi. It prepares the physical body to remain in one position longer.
- Yog Nidra plays a vital role in reaching the level of superconsciousness.
- Yog Nidra brings joy, happiness, and compassion to the heart.
Precautions for practising Yoga Nidra
Even though Yog Nidra meditation has tremendous work on the human body, it has a few limitations. If someone is passing through these phases, he should follow some precautions, and these are:
- Yoga Nidra should never be practised just after meals. Before practising it, the meal should be light and sattvic.
- It should not be practised under the influence of alcohol or any other harmful activities.
- Someone who is practising yog nidra should mind an open and clean space.
- It should never be practised under any negative influence because it positively reacts to our personality.
- Practising it in a silent zone where noise does not interrupt during practice is highly advisable.
- Practising it after covering the body parts properly is also very important.
- Yoga sleep should be avoided if a person is having a lot of anger.
- An experienced yoga teacher or guru should always practise it.
