YOGA NIDRA

Yoga Nidra literally translates as ‘sleep of the yogis’, it is one of the deepest meditations and a way of gaining the benefits of relaxation without losing awareness.

Often called “psychic sleep”, 1 hour of yogic sleep is said to be the equivalent of 4 hours of regular sleep. This is due to the fact that during Yoga Nidra you remain in a state of consciousness while you focus your mind and relax your body totally. You will find you will have a feeling of relaxation as well as one of clarity and calmness. Yoga Nidra is an effective technique for restoring physical and mental relaxation.

Yoga Nidra is also recommended for managing complaints such as asthma, high blood pressure and as a tool for stress management. If you find you suffer from pre-menstrual symptoms such as cramping, PMS, fatigue and insomnia, or other complaints such as constipation, endometriosis and sexual tension, Yoga Nidra can have positive effects on these conditions as well.

The most important thing is to try to use this relaxation technique as often as you can, even if you only have 10 minutes or so to spare. Any relaxation/meditation time will leave you feeling calm and refreshed. Try to build relaxation time into your daily routine.

Yoga poses can also help relaxation. These poses are a vital part of a yoga practise as they will enable you to ‘warm down’ after your session, teach you how to truly relax your mind and body, and give your body the opportunity to absorb the benefits of the movement as well as relaxation.

Poses to try:

Corpse Pose (savasana)

Child’s Pose (balasana)

Thunderbolt Pose (vajrasan )

Goddess Pose (supta baddha konasana)

Pelvic tilts