Yoga Nidra is sometimes referred to as "Yogic Sleep" and is an incredibly simple and beneficial practice! If you can lay down and listen you can do Yoga Nidra! It's said that 30 minutes of Yoga Nidra is equal to 4 hours of deep sleep. In our crazy modern world of Go Go GO, who doesn't need that?!

This practice is similar to a guided meditation but here, instead of trying to sit up tall and still for the session, you should be laying down and totally relaxed. You can lay on the floor or maybe even your bed. You should try not to fall asleep but if you do? No worries! The practice still works and you obviously needed the rest!

During a session, you'll start with some centering and relaxation and then you'll be asked to set an intention or Sankalpa. This is another important aspect of this practice in addition to the relaxation. This intention setting with the body and mind relaxed is very powerful. The intention you set for your Yoga Nidra plants a seed deep in your subconscious that is bound to come true in your life. The relaxation of mind and body that you experience during the practice makes this possible. It's like preparing the soil before you plant the seed. You may wish to take some time and think about your Sankalpa before you begin the practice, but you can also discover one naturally as you begin. It's up to you.

After the Sankalpa comes a rotation of consciousness through different parts of the body. Here as you listen to the instructions you simply let your awareness move to each part as it is named without moving the physical body. After that there will be some time spent in awareness of breathing and visualization. Before you know it, it's time to bring back your Sankalpa and start to come back into an awareness of your body to end the practice!

Yoga Nidra is a very popular practice at Forever Yoga for good reason! Everyone just feels so wonderful and refreshed afterward! I like to try and incorporate it into the Wednesday night Unwind class at the end of each month. Can't make it to the studio to give it a try? Now you can purchase a recording I made during a live class!Check it out on our Shop page!

I hope you'll give this powerful practice a try and begin to incorporate it into your regular yoga practice!