What is Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra is often referred to as yogic sleep. It is a practice that lots of us will have been doing long before realising we were. 

That juicy part that we all look forward to at the end of a yoga class, when you don your socks, jumpers and blankets, lie back in savasana and let the goodness of the class you’ve just done soak over you. You drift into a borderline state between being asleep and awake that is total relaxation - this is yoga nidra.

Yoga Nidra is the most accessible form of meditation and relaxation which takes little effort, it’s benefits are extensive including:

• Takes you into a deep state of rest: without resting we can not recharge

• Soothes and resets the nervous system, taking us away from being in a fight or fight mode and into our parasympathetic nervous system 

• Helps with sleep

• Enhances memory and how we learn and process things

• Improves and creates space for creativity

• Teaches us how to detach from an overthinking mind and move into the sensations of the body

• The body scan part of the practice, encourages you to focus inwards which is rejuvenating and increases self compassion and awareness for our own bodies

• It can reduce stress and decrease the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body 

I took part in a beautiful three day training in November with Melanie Cooper and Jennie Watsden and developed a deeper fascination and love for the practice. I’ve found it so helpful during my pregnancy to incorporate an afternoon practice in my day.

Yoga nidra can be done lying down or seated, outside or inside you can take a recording with you on a train or if you are travelling somewhere, and you don’t need a yoga mat. 

If this is your first time practicing, I would recommend finding somewhere quiet to sit or lie down comfortably, have a cushion or blanket over you and dim or switch off the lights.

I’ve recorded a short Yoga Nidra for you to try (12 mins long), click the link below to listen.