“Isn’t yoga supposed to be exercise?”
This is a common question I get when I begin to explain what Yoga Nidra is. The answer is, “Sometimes.” There are eight limbs, or aspects, of yoga that range from a set of moral and ethical codes to things like breath work, concentration, and meditation. Asanas, or physical postures, are just one-eighth of all that is yoga. If you are exclusively doing a physical yoga practice, branch out! Yoga is a comprehensive practice that has much, much more to offer.
Yoga Nidra is a special kind of deep, meditative practice. Moving into a place of total relaxation between wakefulness and sleep, it is a chance to reconnect with your highest self and practice awareness.
Yoga Nidra has been shown to help lessen anxiety, stress, tension, depression, and symptoms of PTSD. It also improves the quality of sleep, retrains old thinking patterns, and enhances memory and creativity.
On the sidebar are recordings from my Yoga Nidra class. Please forgive the sound quality and any other sound disruptions from the live recordings.
Before beginning a Yoga Nidra session, lie down in savasana with the palms turned up. You may wish to cover yourself with a blanket and place something underneath your knees. Close your eyes and try to remain perfectly still and awake throughout.
Choosing Surrender 