Yoga Nidra

 

Yoga Nidra means Yogic Sleep.
It is a state of conscious Deep Sleep.

Whereas even in Meditation, you remain in the Waking state of consciousness, in Yoga Nidra you leave the Waking state, pass the Dreaming state, and enter into the Deep Sleep state, yet remain fully awake.

Thus, the state of Yoga Nidra, or conscious Deep Sleep, is beyond or subtler than the mental processes of the Waking state or the imagery of the Dreaming state.

 

 
Where does it come from?

Yoga Nidra is a tantric practice that has been known for thousands of years by the sages and yogis.

Yogi Swatmarama discussed Yoga Nidra in Chapter 4, Verses 49 -62 of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which is dated somewhere between 1350 – 1550 A.D.

In more recent times, Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati, the disciple of Swami Sivananda who started the Bihar School of Yoga, was instrumental  in reviving the practice of Yoga Nidra and at times Yoga Nidra is referred to as the essence of Satyananda Yoga.

 

What are the benefits of Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra is one of the deepest of all meditative practices, leading awareness through many levels to a state of supreme stillness, that may bring about incredible calmness and quietness, coupled with great insight and clarity.

The profound depth of Yoga Nidra, is far beyond mere relaxation.

Yoga Nidra, it is like reaching into the deepest realms of the Self, where all our potentials are in a latent state, a place that holds immense potential for self-healing as well as purifying the Samskaras, the deep impressions which are the driving force behind Karma.

 

What if you do not reach the state of Yoga Nidra?

The practices leading up to Yoga Nidra state are very useful. It is good to enjoy that relaxation and to train the mind.

At some point, as the practice deepens, maybe just for a moment, like a flash, one then experiences the depth of Yoga Nidra.

But, as in all useful things in life and yoga, knowing and mental understanding is not going to get us anywhere, but only a persistent patient practice will eventually reveal the “jewel” of Yoga Nidra.

 

Click this link for more details on our CD

A Journey in Yoga Nidra          Yoga Nidra – Eine Reise ins Innere

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