The Benefits of Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation
This easy guided meditation technique will help ease you into sleep.
“Yoga takes you into the present moment, the only moment where life exists” ~ Patanjali
Almost everyone I know wants to improve their sleep and one of the most effective ways I know is through adding mindful practices such as gentle yoga and meditation to your bedtime routine.
Yoga Nidra, also known as “yogic sleep” is a very powerful kind of meditation. It requires no special equipment or knowledge and you can start incorporating it into your daily routine today with no prior experience. It’s a meditation practice that you do in savasana (corpse pose) and is a perfect segue into sleep.
Here are some benefits of trying Yoga Nidra:
Absolutely anyone can do it – it is accessible for everyone. Your yoga practice does not always need to consist of difficult poses. Everyone, from small children to older adults, can do it. All you need to do is lie down, close your eyes, and listen. If lying down isn’t comfortable, you can do Yoga Nidra in a seated position.
It is impossible to do Yoga Nidra wrong. All you need to do is follow along with whatever recorded version you have decided to listen to. If your mind wanders, that’s okay, just notice and come back to the present. If you fall asleep, that’s okay too. Who knows what our unconscious mind takes in?
It is easy to make Yoga Nidra part of your daily routine. Sometimes it’s hard to sit in a seated meditation and concentrate on our breath. Yoga Nidra is not something you do on your own – it is always guided. You can find recordings on You Tube or on any of the meditation apps that are available (one of my favourite go-to apps is Insight Timer). Most meditation apps have a free version. A practice can be as short or as long as you want it to be and although it is meant to do while you are awake, it is soothing to do right in your bed. If you’re like me, you’ll likely find yourself drifting off before the recording is over!
Yoga Nidra helps to reduce stress. It promotes deep relaxation, even more than in a regular meditation practice or body scan. Deep relaxation helps calm the nervous system. It’s good for your health!
The practice of Yoga Nidra allows you to explore your inner world in a kind, gentle way. During the practice, you’ll be encouraged to focus on images, emotions and feelings. You may be prompted to set an intention or focus on an area of your life that you want to work on. The more you explore your sensations through repeated practice, the more benefits you will notice.
In summary, here are some of the possible benefits of adding Yoga Nidra to your mindful yoga and meditation practice:
Deep rest and relaxation
Help insomnia
Decrease anxiety
Reduce chronic pain
Boost your immune system
Increase your ability to focus
To help you explore the practice a little more, I’ve included an introductory 15 minute practice here for you to try:
I hope you’ll try this Yoga Nidra meditation. It’s another mindful practice you can add as part of your daily self-care to help you build resilience, increase relaxation and have a good night’s sleep.
I’d love to hear from you so please send any comments or questions to me at sharon@sharonashtonmindfulyoga.com. Feel free to share this email with anyone else who may be interested.
You are also invited to join my free Facebook group The Journey Within Mindful Yoga and Life Change Community here where we can connect to share resources and short mindful yoga and meditation practices:
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