YOGA NIDRA, ALSO KNOWN AS "SLEEP YOGA," IS A POWERFUL MEDITATION AND RELAXATION TECHNIQUE THAT GUIDES STUDENTS INTO A STATE BETWEEN CONSCIOUSNESS AND UNCONSCIOUSNESS. IT INVOLVES LYING DOWN IN SAVASANA AND BEING LED THROUGH A SYSTEMATIC RELAXATION PROCESS.

DURING YOGA NIDRA, STUDENTS ENTER A STATE OF DEEP RELAXATION WHILE REMAINING CONSCIOUS. THE MIND IS TAKEN THROUGH VARIOUS GUIDED STAGES SUCH AS:
- BODY SCAN | BRINGING AWARENESS TO DIFFERENT BODY PARTS.
- BREATH AWARENESS | FOCUSING ON NATURAL BREATHING PATTERNS.
- VISUALIZATION | IMAGINING PEACEFUL OR SYMBOLIC SCENES.
- INTENTION SETTING | AFFIRMING A PERSONAL RESOLUTION OR GOAL TO BE PLANTED IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND.

YOGA NIDRA IS A SIMPLE, YET PROFOUND TRANSFORMATIVE PRACTICE THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY ANYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE OR PHYSICAL ABILITY. IT IS AN ANCIENT PRACTICE USEFUL FOR THOSE SEEKING STRESS RELIEF AND DEEPER MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL HEALING. PRACTICING YOGA NIDRA FOR 30 MINUTES HAS THE EFFECT OF 3-4 HOURS OF RESTORATIVE SLEEP.

THE BENEFITS OF YOGA NIDRA ARE PROFOUND:
- DEEP RELAXATION AND STRESS RELIEF | YOGA NIDRA ACTIVATES THE PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, ALLOWING THE BODY TO DEEPLY RELAX AND REDUCE STRESS HORMONES. THIS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ALLEVIATE ANXIETY, TENSION, AND BURNOUT.
- IMPROVED SLEEP QUALITY | SINCE YOGA NIDRA PROMOTES PROFOUND RELAXATION, IT CAN HELP PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM INSOMNIA OR OTHER SLEEP DISORDERS BY PROVIDING REST EQUIVALENT TO SEVERAL HOURS OF RESTORATIVE SLEEP.
- EMOTIONAL HEALING | YOGA NIDRA ENABLES DEEP EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RELEASE, WHICH CAN AID IN PROCESSING PAST TRAUMAS, FEARS, AND NEGATIVE THOUGHT PATTERNS.
- INCREASED MINDFULNESS AND SELF-AWARENESS | THE GUIDED MEDITATION CULTIVATES MINDFULNESS, HELPING STUDENTS DEVELOP GREATER AWARENESS OF THEIR BODIES, THOUGHTS, AND EMOTIONS.
- BOOSTS CREATIVITY AND MENTAL CLARITY | BY CALMING THE MIND AND CLEARING MENTAL CLUTTER, YOGA NIDRA CAN ENHANCE CREATIVITY, PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, AND FOCUS.
- REDUCES PAIN | THE DEEP RELAXATION THAT OCCURS DURING YOGA NIDRA CAN HELP REDUCE CHRONIC PAIN BY CALMING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND EASING MUSCLE TENSION.
- BALANCES THE NERVOUS SYSTEM | BY ACTIVATING THE PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, IT HELPS BALANCE THE BODY'S RESPONSE TO STRESS, IMPROVING OVERALL RESILIENCE AND LOWERING CORTISOL.