Yoga nidra is a yoga practise that has been around for centuries. It’s known as sleep yoga because of its ability to induce the same brain wave frequency as deep sleep.
It allows you to access your subconscious mind and consciously create new neural pathways. In this article we will go over how yoga nidra and sound healing are beneficial to your health.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga nidra or ‘yogic sleep’ is a form of guided meditation that takes you on a journey from consciousness to a deep alpha and high-theta brain-wave state.
While you rest comfortably in savasana, this nourishing meditation takes you through the pancha kosha, or the five sheaths of awareness.
The five sheaths of the body are called koshas and are described as a series of layers. The outermost layer, annamaya kosha, is associated with food, water and breathing; pranamaya kosha is associated with energy; manomaya kosha is associated with thoughts and feelings; vijnanamaya kosha is associated with intellect; and anandamaya kosha is associated with bliss.
At the centre of these five layers is atman, otherwise known as the true self.
Yoga nidra helps you access deeper levels of consciousness so that you can relax your mind, body, and emotions; allowing you to attain greater understanding and awareness of these layers.
Once in that state, it offers a secure, non-judgemental atmosphere in which to explore one’s inner self. To come face-to-face with any long-held emotions that need releasing, without complete immersion in past experiences. This allows us to gain insights into what needs healing.
What are the Benefits of Yoga Nidra?
Yoga nidra helps in boosting the mood-regulating hormone secretion, to calm you down. It helps release stress, control anxiety and begin the restorative brain activity.
This helps to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety while promoting feelings of peace and well-being throughout the body.
It also improves concentration and memory by reducing distractions from everyday life like noise pollution and negative thoughts so that you can focus on the present moment instead of worrying about other things in the future or past.
Why Sound Healing and Yoga Nidra?
Sound healing refers to a range of therapies in which sound is used to treat physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental conditions. Like drums, hand clapping, singing, dancing and other rhythmic activities have been used by indigenous cultures around the world for thousands of years as part of healing ceremonies.
This ancient practise involves the application of sound waves and harmonic vibrations to bring the mind and body into balance. One of its benefits is that it can help reduce stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia.
During a yoga nidra and sound healing session, practitioners can experience deep levels of healing as their chakras are cleansed and opened, and stuck energy is released. The practise helps replenish one's entire being.
Yoga nidra and sound healing are a great way to relax and get into the flow of things. The ability to remove the veils of illusion and merge one’s true self with universal consciousness is something that everyone needs, not just yoga practitioners.