The current practice of Yoga Nidra evolved from the ancient teachings of the tantric practice of Nyasa, as referred to in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. After studying these ancient teachings, Swami Satyananda Saraswati recreated this transformational practice for spiritual growth and insight, without the complicated ritualistic drawbacks of the original teachings. Yoga Nidra was originally practiced in a sitting position and included the recitation of specific mantras coordinated with specific parts of the body. Today, Yoga Nidra is typically practiced in a comfortable, lying down position, and does not usually involve the chanting of Sanskrit mantras.

     Yoga Nidra begins with a state of deep relaxation attained by shifting the consciousness inward, known in Sanskrit as Pratyahara, where the internal mental awareness is shifted away from external sensory perceptions. The term Yoga Nidra is derived from two Sanskrit words, “yoga” meaning union and “nidra” meaning sleep. It is a systematic and deliberate method of inducing complete physical, mental, and emotional relaxation, leading you consciously into the subconscious mind for the sole purpose of making permanent changes in the psyche that lead to personal and spiritual transformation. 

     The practice of Yoga Nidra induces a state of mindfulness between being consciously awake and the dream state. Because the subconscious mind has a language of its own based on symbols and images, once the student has been guided in to a deep state of Pratyhara, images and symbols are used to speak directly to the subconscious mind. The student is directed to repeat an  individually designed, personal “resolve”, (known in Sanskrit as a “Sankalpa”), several times  through out the process. This planting of a “resolve”, a short, mental statement, is impressed on the subconscious mind by the student with willpower and feeling when the mind is most receptive. 

     The true practice of Yoga Nidra is not guided relaxation, as often suggested at the end of a typical yoga class, although, a single hour of Yoga Nidra is as restful as four hours of conventional sleep. It is very similar in theory to the meditation practice called Self Inquiry. During a Yoga Nidra session the student is often reminded to stay awake and alert. Yoga Nidra is a technique of active, concentrated awareness focused on the internal workings of the psyche, with the intent of making changes to an acquired belief system that is directing one’s thoughts, feelings, and consequently, actions in the outer world.

     While it may seem similar to hypnotherapy or past life regression, it differs greatly from both of these therapies in that the entire process is practiced with willful and conscious control by the recipient. It is not a leisurely process, but rather, the facilitator verbally guides the student in a quick pace from image to image, and the student is expected to stay directly and consciously engaged in the entire process, listening for the awakening of their own intuitive voice from within. Unlike hypnotherapy or past life regression, the student is not given the liberty to allow the mind to drift to wherever it wants. For example, the facilitator would not ask: “what do you see now?” for the facilitator is directly guiding the student throughout the entire process and knows exactly what the student should be imaging at any given moment.

     The practice of Yoga Nidra brings awareness to and from the subconscious mind, allowing the opportunity for tremendous shifts in perception in both minds. In this way, we are able to make permanent changes in our mental habits; personally changing old, outdated belief systems that no longer serve our highest good. The deeper teachings of yoga tell us that deep rooted Samskaras continually affect our thoughts and actions, and they can easily be eliminated through the sincere practice of Yoga Nidra. Most people on the “spiritual path back home” realize that all the answers to their illusioned spiritual and practical life problems lie within themselves. To receive intuitive information that will result in significant changes in how we live our daily lives we simply need to become physically and mentally still enough to hear the divine wisdom speaking from within us. There in lies the “Atman”, our personal soul that knows the eternal Truth of oneness consciousness. 

 
     It is with love and open arms I invite and encourage everyone to try a session of Yoga Nidra with me at Spiritual Oasis Healing and Yoga Center. I have designed a new 2 hour Weekend Workshop that includes a short lecture and time to process the internal changes, both with another student and the teacher.  This process is truly transformational, and I believe in it so strongly that I will guarantee your money back if you don’t personally witness an unforgettable, deeper experience with your true Self.