Yoga Nidra Practice Here in Oshawa!

Dec 09, 12

Posted by Annemarie in Blog

Yoga Nidra, also known as yogic sleep or sleep with awareness, is an ancient practice. It is considered to be the state in which the Gods reside. Yoga Nidra is intended to induce full-body relaxation creating a deep meditative state of consciousness. Yoga Nidra is the tonic we need to live in our chronically exhausted, over-stimulated world. It is a systematic method of complete relaxation, holistically addressing our physiological, neurological, and subconscious needs. Yoga Nidra is one of the deepest of all meditations, leading awareness through many levels of mental processes to a state of supreme stillness and insight, bringing incredible calmness, quietness and clarity. During a Yoga Nidra class, a variety of techniques are used—including guided imagery and body scanning—to aid relaxation. Unlike a short Savasana (at the end of a yoga practice), Yoga Nidra allows enough time for practitioners to physiologically and psychologically sink into the experience—at least 20 to 45 minutes. This makes it a logical second step for those who would like to take their physical yoga practice further into the mind. The ability to relax and meditate so peacefully allows for our deepest levels of creativity and healing energies to come to the surface. One session of Yoga Nidra is equal to approximately 3 hours of sleep in its ability to rejuvenate. Most of us when we sleep never really relax or truly let go into the deepest recesses of our unconscious where our connection to creation resides. This is what Yoga Nidra provides, a deep connection to our unconscious that leads to wholeness. Though most practitioners don’t slip easily into the more advanced stages of yoga nidra, they will still tend to emerge feeling rejuvenated, and their practice will deepen with experience. Rod Stryker, the founder of ParaYoga, and considered to be one of the preeminent yoga, tantra, and meditation teachers in the United States says, “Yoga Nidra uniquely unwinds the nervous system, which is the foundation of the body’s well-being.” With persistence, the practice of yoga nidra...