What is Yoga Nidra?
A state of consciousness between waking and sleeping induced by guided meditation.
Benefits
- Induces deep physiological rest equivalent to several hours of sleep
- Releases deep-seated tension, trauma, and emotional residue (samskara)
- Supports healing from burnout, insomnia, and anxiety
- Works with sankalpa (intention) to seed positive change
- Accessible to everyone — no experience or physical ability required
What to Expect
You lie in savasana (on your back) for the entire session. The teacher's voice guides you through a systematic rotation of awareness through the body, followed by pairs of opposites and visualisation. You remain in a hypnagogic state — neither fully asleep nor awake. Nothing is required of you but to listen and let go.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What if I fall asleep?
- Falling asleep is fine — the practice may still work at a subconscious level. Over time, most practitioners learn to remain at the threshold of sleep without crossing it.
- Is it the same as a body scan?
- The body scan is one element of Yoga Nidra, but the full practice is a more structured journey through multiple layers of consciousness (koshas).