I write about yoga nidra quite extensively as part of my job. Mostly, I write from the perspective of yoga teachers looking to reach prospective students with a positive message. I wanted to branch out. I wanted to understand what actual students thought about yoga nidra as a practice. I did some research and learned a lot in the process.
Yoga Nidra in a Nutshell
Yoga nidra is a specialized form of yoga that is often referred to as ‘yogic sleep’. This is because one of the goals of the practice is to reach a fully conscious but meditative state that is somewhere between fully awake and fully asleep. I admit that thoughts of such a state intrigue me.
It is for this reason that yoga nidra expert and sleep meditation teacher Scott Moore says yoga nidra is recommended for people who are struggling with sleep but don’t want to take medications.
I already knew this much about yoga nidra. I am familiar with what Moore and other yoga nidra practitioners do to help people start sleeping better. But is there anything beyond better sleep? Can yoga nidra help with other problems people are dealing with? In a word, yes.
Real World Yoga Nidra Benefits
Rather than going through all of the details of what I learned in my research, I will point you to a Fit & Well post from contributor Megan Milstead. Her experience is pretty typical of what people say about yoga nidra. As a freelance writer and someone with “a passion for weightlifting, health, and mental wellbeing”, Milstead decided to give yoga nidra a try for 10 days. She later reported that it changed her day-to-day life.
For starters, she came to realize that she often feels rushed throughout her day. Welcome to the club. Many of us feel that way. But because yoga nidra emphasizes experiencing the moment without preconceived judgments or ideas, it helps a person become more self-aware. Over time, a person becomes more aware of what is going on around her. In Milstead’s case, that awareness helped her see how rushed she was.
Milstead’s awareness of being rushed also caused her to realize how many mistakes she made because of it. She came to understand that slowing down and being more intentional could eliminate the mistakes and make her more productive.
Yoga nidra even taught Milstead how to “observe discomfort without judgment.” In simple English, yoga nidra encourages looking at discomfort – whether it be physical, mental, or emotional – as entities that can be controlled rather than allowing them to be in control.
It’s Not Hard to Do
Although Milstead did not explicitly say so in her post, I get the impression she also learned (for the first time) just how easy it is to practice yoga nidra. Organized yoga nidra classes are great. They serve a valuable purpose that many students appreciate. But beginners can learn yoga nidra at home with the help of a mobile app and a quiet space.
You don’t need any special skills to learn yoga nidra. You do not need any previous experience with other forms of yoga. All you need is a willingness to relax and follow your guide as they lead you through the various stages that will help you achieve the desired state of consciousness.
Like so many others before her, Milstead learned just how beneficial yoga nidra can be to daily life, after doing it for just ten days. Yes, it can absolutely help you sleep better. But yoga nidra can do so much more. Consider giving it a try.
