Rest & Restore Yoga Nidra

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40 Days of Yoga Nidra

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Why Yoga Nidra?

Stress is the sum of one’s responses to external stimulus. While stress isn’t something you can see with your physical eyes, it can wreak havoc on your body, mind and emotions, earning it the ranking of #1 contributor to disease.

We tend to distract ourselves from stress rather than release it, by turning to the TV, food, or anything else that helps us forget our stress for a while. But these outlets only serve as a temporary diversion from our stress, they don’t do anything to help release tension or heal the root causes of stress.

Yoga Nidra is different. It’s a restorative meditation practice that encourages the body and mind release the effects of stress. Instead of distracting you temporarily from stress, it goes to work at the level of the stress response, helping the nervous system unwind and restore.

And best of all, it’s simple and effective. All you need to do is lay down and listen. If laying down isn’t an option, you can enjoy the benefits of Yoga Nidra in whatever position makes you most comfortable.

What is Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra is the state of conscious deep sleep. A restorative form of guided meditation facilitates the entry into this state, where the mind remains conscious while the body experiences the effects deep sleep. Yoga Nidra is typically practiced lying down, but take any position that allows your body to feel comfortable and supported.

You’ve already experienced nidra, or sleep. That moment where the busy mind surrenders and “falls” asleep each night is similar to the experience of Yoga Nidra, except that in Yoga Nidra, the mind stays aware and witnesses the body sleeping.

The word Yoga in the name Yoga Nidra differentiates this state of consciousness from that of unconscious sleep or nidra, and refers to the sleep of the yogis—conscious deep sleep.

How Does Yoga Nidra Work?

Entering a state of conscious deep sleep is like hitting the reset button. It allows the body and mind to unplug from external stimulus and busy thoughts, releasing deep rooted holding patterns that we experience as the stress response. This is why a common response to the experience of Yoga Nidra is feeling refreshed.

The release of these deep rooted holding patterns, or samskaras as the ancient yogis called them, is what allows us to shift the way we handle what life brings our way. This is why those who experience Yoga Nidra often speak of a feeling that something has changed within them, although they may not yet be able to name what that change is.

Practicing Yoga Nidra can facilitate a decrease in Beta brain waves, associated with the fully engaged, interactive waking state, and an increase in Alpha and Theta brain waves associated with physical relaxation and meditation—and eventually, with practice, Delta waves, associated with deep, non-REM sleep.

The best part of how Yoga Nidra works is that you don’t need to know the “how” to do the practice and reap the benefits. All you have to do is lay down and listen to the guided practice and the benefits begin.

Benefits of Yoga Nidra

The benefits of Yoga Nidra practice have been known by practitioners for decades, but have only recently undergone research. Preliminary studies show Yoga Nidra can affect insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, menstrual issues and blood pressure to name a few. A lowered stress response can benefit every area of life, from overall health and personal wellbeing to relationships, work and creativity.

While the modern science of the practice is still young, the yogis have know its benefits for many years. That’s why practices like Yoga Nidra stand the test of time—they work if you do the work of showing up and doing the practice!

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