Yoga Nidra
A technique for conscious relaxation
Yoga Nidra One-day Workshop
Dates to be announced
At Woodland Yoga, 9148 Cottonwood Ave., Howard City 49329. Cost $45.
No prerequisite. To register call: 616-635-6029 or email: [email protected]
A practice derived from the Tantras, Yoga Nidra is a very powerful technique for conscious relaxation. The term is derived from the word Yoga meaning “union” and Nidra meaning “sleep”. In Yoga Nidra, this state is reached by turning the attention inward away from external experiences. Although the one experiencing Nidra may appear to be asleep, the consciousness is actually functioning at a much deeper level of awareness. In this deep state, the consciousness becomes very powerful and can be applied in many ways, for example: to develop the memory, increase knowledge, inspire creativity and productivity or completely transform one’s nature.The Yoga Nidra process is deeply relaxing. Among its many benefits are releasing stored up tension and reducing stress. The practice has also been known to help with a variety of ailments, such as insomnia, depression, asthma, high blood pressure, anxiety, ulcers and migraines, to name a few. Through the practice of Yoga Nidra, one not only relaxes but also restructures and reforms their whole personality from within. With every session, one cleans out old patterns and habits and is allowed to see themselves anew. This process is not only quicker than other systems, which work from the outside in, it is much more reliable and permanent.
The Yoga Nidra should be experienced as a guided session that takes place under the direction of an experienced practitioner. Your guide will take you through the following stages of Yoga Nidra:
1. Preparation. Yoga Nidra is performed in the Yogic position savasana, lying on the back with palms upward. The one experiencing the Nidra lies motionless while being led through a basic relaxation.
2. San Kalpa (Intention). When the body is completely relaxed, the one experiencing the Nidra is instructed to make an intention of his or her own wish.
3. Rotation of Consciousness. The awareness is rotated around different body parts in an organized manner. The one experiencing the Nidra remains aware, listens and follows guided instructions.
4. Breathing. The one experiencing the Nidra is led through natural breathing exercises.
5. Opposite feelings and sensations. Hot, cold, pain, pleasure - these and other opposite feelings are felt and experienced fully.
6. Visualization.
7. San Kalpa (Intention). Once again, the one experiencing the Nidra repeats his or her intention mentally, three times, with conviction.
8. Ending. The guide slowly brings the person’s awareness back to external environment and the session ends. Both modern psychology and Yogic philosophy recognize three kinds of tension: muscular, emotional and mental. Each of these can be progressively released through the systematic and regular practice of Yoga Nidra. In this fast paced world of high external tension, this ancient practice is resurfacing at a time when it is most needed. This practice is most certainly an ancient prescription for the stresses of a modern world.
The Yoga Nidra should be experienced as a guided session that takes place under the direction of an experienced practitioner. Your guide will take you through the following stages of Yoga Nidra:
1. Preparation. Yoga Nidra is performed in the Yogic position savasana, lying on the back with palms upward. The one experiencing the Nidra lies motionless while being led through a basic relaxation.
2. San Kalpa (Intention). When the body is completely relaxed, the one experiencing the Nidra is instructed to make an intention of his or her own wish.
3. Rotation of Consciousness. The awareness is rotated around different body parts in an organized manner. The one experiencing the Nidra remains aware, listens and follows guided instructions.
4. Breathing. The one experiencing the Nidra is led through natural breathing exercises.
5. Opposite feelings and sensations. Hot, cold, pain, pleasure - these and other opposite feelings are felt and experienced fully.
6. Visualization.
7. San Kalpa (Intention). Once again, the one experiencing the Nidra repeats his or her intention mentally, three times, with conviction.
8. Ending. The guide slowly brings the person’s awareness back to external environment and the session ends. Both modern psychology and Yogic philosophy recognize three kinds of tension: muscular, emotional and mental. Each of these can be progressively released through the systematic and regular practice of Yoga Nidra. In this fast paced world of high external tension, this ancient practice is resurfacing at a time when it is most needed. This practice is most certainly an ancient prescription for the stresses of a modern world.
