The Life-Changing Practice of Yoga Nidra

On a cold, damp December evening, I entered my local yoga studio feeling frazzled. Christmas had come and gone, leaving me drained, both physically and financially. Earlier in the day, I saw a Facebook post promoting a yoga nidra class. It had promised a relaxing session that would alleviate stress. I was unfamiliar with the practice, but decided to give it a try. I had no idea that I would begin a practice that would change my life.

As I entered the warm, inviting yoga studio, I already felt the tension from the holiday season begin to dissipate.

“Close your eyes and get comfortable,” the instructor spoke softly. “Remember, you can’t do yoga nidra wrong. If you fall asleep, that’s OK.”

I melted into my yoga mat as my muscles relaxed. The instructor guided us on our inward journey, but just enough to make each person’s session uniquely theirs.

“You’re in a field,” she said. “You’re walking and find a waterfall. There’s an animal at the waterfall. What do you see?”

I could picture the waterfall in my mind with a brave lion sitting nearby. I saw violet flowers in the field and the sunlight sparkling off the water. It felt like a vivid, life-like dream, except it wasn’t. It was yoga nidra.

As the class continued, I wasn’t thinking about the pile of work on my desk or the laundry that had to be done. I was only thinking of myself and I didn’t have an ounce of guilt.

I floated out of the yoga nidra class feeling rejuvenated, and rightly so. I’d later learn that 45 minutes of yogic sleep is equivalent to three hours of regular sleep. Yoga nidra is a form of meditation, not an exercise. It’s the stage of consciousness between waking and sleeping, which explained the dream-like state that I had experienced.

The activity of meditation has been around for many years, dating back to ancient India in 10,000 B.C. Throughout the centuries, it has evolved and increased in popularity. Now, we even have phone apps that make it painlessly simple to take a break and zone out for 10 minutes.

Yoga nidra can be even easier to practice than traditional meditation. With yoga nidra, you don’t need to worry about your posture or the timing of your breaths. As mentioned before, it’s a practice that cannot be done incorrectly. All ages can practice it, from children to senior citizens, and it can be done in a yoga studio or in the comfort of your own bed. Yoga nidra scripts are available on the internet and many are free to use. The scripts can last anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes.

Like other meditation forms, there are many benefits associated with yoga nidra. It can improve anxiety and depression. Studies have also shown that it can lower blood pressure and regulate hormones.

Whether you’re an experienced meditator or yoga newbie, you’ll feel the effects after just one session—and trust me, you’ll be hooked.