Brought to the masses in the early 1950s by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, yoga nidra has its roots in ancient tantric texts. The practice claims to help you reach ‘the border between waking and sleeping states’. Sometimes described as ‘dynamic sleep’, it allows the body to get into a deep state of relaxation, while keeping the mind alert. It doesn’t involve holding poses or moving through sequences, but laying still while an instructor talks you through a set of relaxation techniques to put you in a meditative state.
There are various offshoots, like ‘Divine Sleep’, which claims to take you out of flight or fight mode and put you into a relaxation response, and iRest, which is a more ‘westernised’ version, with easy-to-understand terminology. It’s been steadily gaining in popularity, as it’s seen as an effective way to offset stressful modern lifestyles and reduce anxiety.
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
In a class, you will be asked to lie on your back with your arms at your sides, palms up, eyes closed, usually covered in a blanket so you’re warm and comfortable. The yoga teacher will ask you to set an intention for the class, then they’ll move through a ‘tour’ of your body (right big toe, right little toe, top of the foot, heel of the foot…). You’re encouraged to focus on your breath as they guide you through visualisations and affirmations before returning you to wakefulness. Through the process, you’ll become steadily less aware of the world around you, and will instead draw your attention inwards. The teacher’s voice may feel far away, and it may be difficult not to fall asleep, but you should emerge feeling relaxed.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?