By Sarah
Yoga Nidra is a state of consciousness, sometimes referred to as yogic sleep. Yoga Nidra is sleepless sleep and occurs between waking consciousness and dreaming consciousness. In many class room settings Yoga Nidra refers to awareness in deep relaxation. It is also important to comprehend that deep relaxation with guided visualization is not Yoga Nidra. The goal of Yoga Nidra techniques is the intermediate state between waking and the dreaming state known as true Yoga Nidra.
Please join me as I guide you through an hour long nidra practice. I will spend a few minutes at the beginning of class to briefly overview the history and benefits of yoga nidra, followed by a 45 minute nidra where students will find a restorative position to rest. Props such as bolsters, blankets, eye coverings/pillows and mats will be provided. Only ten spots per class! Book your class through our online booking site. Fall / Winter 2022 Dates: August 28, September 25th, October 30th, November 27th and December 18th.
Yoga Nidra cultivates a profound quiet, deep relaxation and inner stillness. The practice has many benefits on the physical, mental and spiritual level.
Physical Benefits:
• Stimulates parasympathetic nervous system response in the body (rest & digest)
• Decreased stress response
• Decrease in blood pressure levels for those with high blood pressure
• Decrease in blood glucose levels for those with elevated blood glucose levels
• Decrease in the release of stress hormones
• Improves digestion and assimilation of food
• Improves the elimination of wastes from the body
• Improves circulation
• Pain reduction
• Decreases inflammation
• Improves and stabilizes mood
• Decreases heart rate
Mental Benefits:
• Fosters a sense of wellness and ease
• May aid in the release of long-held fears, anger, negative emotions, etc
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Can reduce symptoms of PTSD
Spiritual Benefits:
• May bring to light profound spiritual insights
• Release and purify samskaras (latent deep impressions in the unconscious mind)
• Release of karmas as samskaras are the driving force behind karmas
Check Out This Cool Research
Using Yoga Nidra to Improve Stress in Psychiatric Nurses in a Pilot Study. • Study performed on psychiatric nurses to measure changes in sleep, stress and muscle fatigue. • The nurses practiced Yoga Nidra weekly for 6 weeks. • The results showed positive findings for both stress and muscle fatigue in the study. Source: J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Jun;23(6):494-495. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0046. Epub 2017 May 22. Anderson R, Mammen K, Paul P, Pletch A, Pulia K.