Yoga Nidra Guided Meditation

 Nidra or sleep is one of the four major sources of energy which include food, sleep, breath and meditation. Sleep revitalizes our whole body and refreshes our mind. Yoganidra is a combination of sleep and meditation with added potency to energize our system. We are all familiar with the image of Lord Vishnu lying down in Yoganidra.

If you have never done Yoganidra before, it is recommended that you start with this guided Yoganidra meditation by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

So what is the difference between Yoganidra and normal nidra?

 

Difference between Nidra and Yoga Nidra

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says,

“Nature compels you to go into silence unconsciously and that is sleep. This gives you energy. When you choose to be silent consciously, that is meditation. It gives you more energy and can help open doors to subtle dimensions.”

In other words, Yoganidra is to “sleep consciously”. Yoganidra instantly recharges and brings an incredible quietness and clarity within you. Yoganidra in Sanskrit means Yogic sleep. The rest that you get through this power nap is much more powerful than sleep because the relaxation takes place consciously.

A yoga routine provides deep restoration to your body and the mind. And to make your practice more effective, it is ideal to end your yoga sequence with Yoganidra. In Yoganidra, we consciously take our attention to different parts of the body and relax them. This can be done by anyone and everyone.

Yoganidra helps conserve and consolidate our energy and relax the entire system, preparing it for pranayama and meditation. It is therefore important to keep aside sufficient time for Yoganidra after yoga posture.  Yoganidra is an essential end to any yoga pose sequence. While the yoga postures ‘warm up’ the body, Yoganidra cools it down.

Prerequisites for Yoganidra

  1. Empty stomach
  2. Some space for lying down
  3. Noise free environment

How to do Yoganidra?

1. Lie down on your back in Shavasana (Corpse pose)

2. Close your eyes

3. Take a few deep breaths

4. Now take your attention to different parts of the body in this order, while relaxing each part,

  • Right foot
  • Left foot
  • Right knee
  • Left knee
  • Right thigh
  • Left thigh
  • Whole of the right leg
  • Whole of left leg
  • Abdomen
  • Stomach
  • Chest
  • Shoulders
  • Right arm
  • Left arm
  • Throat
  • Face
  • Top of your head
  • Finally take your attention to the whole body

5. Lie down in this position for a few minutes

6. Gently roll over to your right side and sit up taking your own time

7. Slowly open your eyes

Benefits of Yoganidra

  • Removes stress and anxiety
  • Rejuvenates the body
  • Relaxes the nervous system
  • Cools the body and restores its normal temperature
  • Facilitates a calm mind
  • Removes emotional patterns
  • Removes insomnia

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