You’ll find my Yoganidra Meditation recordings below (and on the Yoganidra Network) so you can practise any time – I often include yoganidra in my weekly group classes (Tuesdays and Fridays).
What is it? Nidra means sleep, so together it means Yogic Sleep or Sleep of the Yogis, and refers to a state of deep rest, where the body and intellectual (thinking) mind are sleeping but you’re fully conscious / aware, enabling reconnection with the inner self. This blissful state of yoganidra has many names, here’s a few you might have heard of, the true self, the inner self, true nature, pure consciousness, Samadhi, Turiya, the source, eccetera.
It is a practise of non-doing – it is a state of simply Being.
The mind literally slows down, as measured by brainwave changes (If you’re interested, during a typical nidra practise you shift from Beta /wakefulness to Alpha /Deep Relaxation and sometimes verge on Theta waves / Dreamlike. With regular practise the yogi might glimpse pure consciousness, evident by Delta waves only usually seen during (unconscious) non-REM sleep).
Some key benefits: Deep rest and rejuvenation | enables self healing | stress reduction | helpful for anxiety & depression | boost energy levels | connection with inner wisdom | spark creativity | problem solving | emotional regulation | suitable for people with heart disease or high blood-pressure as it reduces blood-pressure | can help with disordered sleep | supports trauma processing | alleviate PTSD symptoms |… and many, many more.
If you’re interested or intrigued to learn more about yoganidra, give my yoga therapy dissertation a little read, within it I have condensed an extensive body of research into a readable essay.
NEW: Body Scan Relaxation for soothing Anxiety
Mind-Brain Reset & Refresh, yoganidra style, meditation – integrating yoga and psychotherapeutic tools to nourish and re-energise the mind and brain.
Yoganidra in Nature – this yoganidra was recorded in the peaceful Welsh countryside of the Usk valley.
Stress Reduction / Calming nidra – yoganidra to alleviate stress, worries, anxiety, unhelpful thoughts and calm body-mind-spirit
Cultivating Gratitude / Kritajna Hum – yoganidra for embracing gratitude / kritajna hum (I am grateful)
Cultivating or Returning to Joy / Anandamaya kosha – a heart centred yoganidra, focused on connecting with joy and the bliss body (anandamaya kosha)
Energy Balancing / balancing Ida & Pingala nadis – this energy body (pranamaya kosha) nidra focuses on balancing Ida and Pingala nadis (energy channels), through a combination of breath, awareness and visualization.
Ocean nidra, resting in stillness, our true nature – this ocean nidra is inspired by the beautiful teachings of Swami Veda Bharati of the Himalayan Institute.
YA Therapy, the Integration of Yoga and Psychotherapy 