What is Yoga Nidra and how can it help us sleep? If you are having one of those nights when you just can’t drop off, try Yoga Nidra for body and mind relaxation.

What is Yoga Nidra?

One of my yoga teachers suggested that I try yoga Nidra practice.

Despite having practiced several different styles of yoga over the years, I hadn’t yet tried Yoga Nidra.

Looking through some yoga practice on my Gaia membership, I found a half-hour Yoga Nidra session.

Yoga Nidra means ‘yogic sleep with awareness‘. It’s also described by practitioners as ‘the art of body sleeping‘.

As somebody who finds meditation very beneficial I was immediately very curious.

I decided to give a half-hour session a try.

Benefits of the art of body sleeping

I realized when I did my session that my yoga teacher had been incorporating Yoga Nidra into our Shavasana (corpse pose) practice.

She would always allow extra time at the end of the class for those who wanted to stay and meditate.

Any excuse for a rest and a nap, after putting the work in.

How to get comfortable before a session

Find somewhere quiet and private.

You can use a yoga mat to lay on, or your sofa, wherever you are comfortable as long as the sofa is wide enough for you to lay comfortably.

I suggest a pillow, cushion or bolster under the needs so that your back can relax completely.

Even if it’s warm, have a blanket or throw on you or nearby, you will be still for a while and may get chilly.

I like to use one of those weighted little bags to cover my eyes.

If you don’t have one of those, eye covers such as you can get when flying on airplanes will do just as well, or a towel or scarf.

It’s worth making this little fuss over yourself – your reward will be extra relaxation afterward.

The main thing is to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible in Shavasana.

Guided meditation, so easy to do

Yoga Nidra sessions can be found on Youtube, Gaia TV, or any fitness app that you have already with varied content – even Audible.

Most sessions have an introduction from a person who guides you through the process.

You’ll experience several different relaxation techniques as you zone in and out of awareness.

As Yoga Nidra is all about ‘the art of body sleeping’ it’s important to stay awake to get the most out of it!

Staying awake is the challenge

One of my favorite sessions includes being instructed to relax all the different muscles in my face. Then my head…and then we went on some kind of body journey from there.

Another part I do recall is working with the right side of my body only, starting with all the bones in one arm, then the leg, then the hips…then the torso.

You will find it really interesting to experience connecting all the energy in one side of the body – before repeating the whole process again on the other side.

Let me know if you practice Yoga Nidra and if you have any favorite CDs or recordings?

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