Yoga Nidra

Most people think that relaxation is very simple, just recline and close your eyes. You are tired so you go to bed and think that is relaxation. But unless you are free from muscular, mental and emotional tensions, you are never relaxed. Even while sleeping, thoughts and worries revolve in the mind, so that the tense person wakes up feeling exhausted. In order to relax completely, the inner tensions of the body, emotions and mind must be released, then the actual state of relaxation dawns. The practice of yoga Nidra is the scientific method of removing these tensions.

Once the Nidra practitioner reached the deepest state of physical and mental relaxation, the mind becomes receptive to new concepts. By reaching this stage through the specific sequence of mind-visualisations, one will access the subconscious part of the mind which is in fact our controlling aspect. This gives us a unique opportunity to effectively implant an affirmation of our choice.

During the practice of yoga Nidra one appears to be asleep but the consciousness is functioning at a deeper level of awareness. For this reason, yoga Nidra is often also referred to as psychic sleep or deep relaxation with inner awareness. In this threshold state between sleep and wakefulness, contact with the subconscious and unconscious dimensions occurs spontaneously. As a result, the mind becomes exceptionally receptive. Suggestions given at this time are successful in removing unwanted habits and tendencies. In fact, yoga Nidra can be used for directing the mind to accomplish anything.

The practice of Yoga Nidra enables one to receive intuitions from the unconscious mind and these intuitions received during Yoga Nidra enable one to find within himself the answers to all problems. In other words, through the practice of Yoga Nidra, we are not only relaxing, but restructuring and reforming our whole personality from within.

Moreover, Yoga Nidra is a more efficient and effective form of psychic and physiological rest and rejuvenation than conventional sleep. A single hour of Yoga Nidra is as restful as four hours of conventional sleep. In fact, the capacity to sleep and dream consciously in yoga Nidra is an evolutionary process which has been utilised by many exceptional people throughout history, paving the way to greater inspiration and achievement in their lives. One such historical person is Napoleon – he would retire to his tent and enter Yoga Nidra at the very height of pitched battle. Exactly 20 min later he would emerge, fresh, invigorated and inspired, remount his horse and inevitably lead the French army to a decisive victory.

The 3 main traditional aspects of the Yoga Nidra Practice are:
1. A systematic method of inducing complete mental, physical and emotional relaxation while maintaining awareness at deeper levels
2. A way to manifest any desire (physical, mental or spiritual)
3. A method of altering karma and finding Moksha (Liberation)

Yoga Nidra usually takes from 20 to 45min to complete and can be divided into the following 8 stages:

1. Relaxation – preliminary preparation of the body, lying on the back in shavasana, the corpse pose, eye lightly closed, arms kept with palms facing upwards and breathing natural and quiet;
2. Affirmation (Sankalpa) – a personal goal previously declared silently / a short simple statement of your personal aim;
3. Rotation of consciousness –rotation of awareness through all the parts of the body, external and internal;
4. Respiration awareness – a period of awareness of the breath at special positions of the body;
5. Manifestations of opposites – pairs of feelings and emotions are expressed / awareness of feelings;
6. Creative visualisation – various archetypal images are visualised mentally;
7. Affirmation (Sankalpa) is repeated and, in a highly suggestible state of consciousness, is programmed into the subconscious mind;
8. Return to full awareness – a careful and gradual return to a normal state.

Yoga Nidra usually takes from 20 to 45min to complete and can be divided into the following 8 stages:

1. Relaxation – preliminary preparation of the body, lying on the back in shavasana, the corpse pose, eye lightly closed, arms kept with palms facing upwards and breathing natural and quiet;
2. Affirmation (Sankalpa) – a personal goal previously declared silently / a short simple statement of your personal aim;
3. Rotation of consciousness –rotation of awareness through all the parts of the body, external and internal;
4. Respiration awareness – a period of awareness of the breath at special positions of the body;
5. Manifestations of opposites – pairs of feelings and emotions are expressed / awareness of feelings;
6. Creative visualisation – various archetypal images are visualised mentally;
7. Affirmation (Sankalpa) is repeated and, in a highly suggestible state of consciousness, is programmed into the subconscious mind;
8. Return to full awareness – a careful and gradual return to a normal state.

• Anyone can practice. Even beginners who have no experience with meditation;
• Physical stresses and tensions are removed;
• Mental stresses and unwanted impressions are removed;
• Emotional balance is restored;
• The faculties of imagination and visualisation are practiced and enhanced;
• The subconscious is focused on and able to manifest any personal goal, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual; Yoga Nidra has a therapeutic use for healing, deep relaxation and problem solving, as well as for spiritual and personal growth by accessing and developing creativity and intuitive wisdom