Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra, often called “yogic sleep,” is a state of consciousness between wakefulness and sleep. This technique offers deep relaxation, meditation, and increased self-awareness. Unlike a lot of modern yoga that focuses on physical postures, Yoga Nidra emphasises guided relaxation, helping participants achieve a state of rest and mental clarity.

What is Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra is a methodical approach that guides you into a deep relaxation state while maintaining awareness. While "Nidra" translates to "sleep", it is distinct in that it encourages conscious awareness. During Yoga Nidra, the body rests profoundly, while the mind remains alert. However, some people find they can't help but nod off during Yoga Nidra and that's okay too.

Yoga Nidra can be really good for people who find traditional meditation challenging or overwhelming as it's a guided meditation and there is always something to help anchor your awareness.

What Happens in a Yoga Nidra Session?

A Yoga Nidra session typically lasts between 30 to 60 minutes. You will lie on your mat, using props if you wish. You will be guided through each phase of the session, aimed at fostering deep relaxation.

Initial Relaxation

Sessions start with a short period of relaxation. You close your eyes and focus on your breathing. This initial step calms the mind and prepares us for the practice.

Sankalpa (Intention Setting)

One aspect of Yoga Nidra is the concept of Sankalpa, which involves setting a personal intention or affirmation. This affirmation is a short mental statement impressed on the subconscious mind during Yoga Nidra. It is a method of supporting change in your life, achieving ambitions and of removing negative blocks or mental conflicts. It's not essential for you to set an intention for your Yoga Nidra practice and sometimes we omit this stage.

Body Scan

You are then led through a guided body scan, encouraging awareness of different body areas. This step promotes relaxation and helps release tension.

Breath Awareness

After the body scan, we then concentrate on the breath. This process helps observe natural breathing patterns without alteration, fostering a mindful state. This is followed by a breathwork practice such as counting our inhales and exhales.

Visualisation

Sessions then move onto one or more visualisations. These might include a sensory consciousness exercise where we focus on extremes - hot and cold, light and heavy and so on.

A visualisation exercise may include creating an internal picture of calming environments, such as a quiet beach or a peaceful forest. This enhances relaxation and encourages positive mental imagery.

Return to Wakefulness

Finally, as the session concludes, you return to a mental repetition of your sankalpa and then you are gently guided back to wakefulness. This gradual transition helps retain the benefits gained during deep relaxation.