Relax, rest, and rejuvanate
Yoga nidrā is a wonderful practice of stillness and deep relaxation, giving you the rest you didn’t know you needed.
Unlike a typical āsana practice, yoga nidrā is practiced in stillness, so is a more accessible way to get the deep benefits of yoga when they’re often needed most: when you’re tired, under the weather, or unable to practice due to injury.
Launching in April, Nidrā Club’s always open, so whenever you’re ready for some deep rest, simply log in, settle down, and press play; members can also join me twice a month for a live nidrā session online.
- The first rule of Nidrā Club is: you DO talk about Nidrā Club.
- The second rule of Nidrā Club is: you tell everyone you know about Nidrā Club.
- Third rule of Nidrā Club: gather all of the blankets, pillows, and cushions.
- Fourth rule: you may also want a hot water bottle.
- Fifth rule: switch off any and all notifications, beeps, and other distractions.
- Sixth rule: prepare to get supremely comfortable.
- Seventh rule: prepare to relax.
- Eighth rule: when it’s over, you can stay as long as you want
A Little Bit More About Yoga Nidrā
If you’re unsure how to pronounce ‘nidrā’, Angie Tiwari has a great Instagram reel here to help.
What is yoga nidrā?
Yoga nidrā is also known as “yogic sleep” or “effortless relaxation”, it may sometimes be called “non-sleep deep rest”, or NSDR (a term coined by Dr Andrew Huberman); whatever you call it, it’s a form of guided meditation.
Simply put: these are all different ways to refer to the kind of rest you get when your body is in a fully relaxed state, but your mind is still awake.
My favourite way to describe yoga nidrā is that you do nothing & gain everything.
Unlike other forms of meditation, it’s practiced sitting comfortably or laying down, and always with a teacher guiding the session. As with during all of my classes, I advocate for you using as many props and supports as you need, alongside cosy clothes & blankets. It can also be really nice to practice yoga nidrā in a snug & restful setting, with dimmed lights and a feeling of warmth & safety.
Although you may feel as if you drifted off during your nidrā – and your body may have – your consciousness, or mind, is still able to listen to and benefit from the ‘story’ or ‘script’ of the nidrā practice; both aspects of ourselves do what they need during the practice, to allow us to feel fully rested in body, mind, and spirit.
Sometimes this isn’t always fully apparent until after the end of the nidrā, or even in the days afterwards, and that’s nothing to worry about – every body responds to these practices differently, but whatever benefits are needed by us are always available to be taken.