Yoga Nidra
What is Yoga Nidra?
It is yoga for your mind: that state of mind between wakefulness and dreaming, a state of conscious relaxation. This is achieved by holding on to your auditory awareness while your body moves to a relaxed state. Yoga Nidra increases vitality, reduces stress, improves sleep, lowers blood pressure, enhances concentration, invites emotional and physical healing, clears negative thoughts and encourages love and compassion for others - including oneself.
Yoga Nidra is one of the aspects of pratyahara: the fifth limb of Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga. Practicing withdrawal of the senses leads to higher states of concentration and ultimately to Samadhi.
Swami Satyanda Saraswati tells us ...
That when you are under tension (muscular, emotional and/or mental) this affects your behaviour BUT when you are relaxed, you become natural: you know the reality , the truth. Only then do you know how to behave, because the knowledge of truth is necessary for right behaviour. And knowledge of truth only comes when you are free of tension.
How do I ....?
Lie down in Savasana in a quiet room. Make sure you are warm. Close your eyes and empty your mind of thoughts. Download and listen to one of the YogaNidra scripts below.
Your Sankalapa
Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning resolve or resolution. It is a seed that you create and sow in the bed of your mind. It takes the form of a short positive mental statement that is impressed onto the subconscious mind during Yoga Nidra.It can be used for therapeutic purposes but also for a greater purpose.