5 Reasons Adventure Yogi Loves Yoga Nidra | Adventure Yogi
Yoga Nidra is magical and at Adventure Yogi, we love it. The meditation of ‘yogic sleep’ doesn’t just have its roots in holistic wellbeing but also very firmly in science! If you have been joining us during our meditation challenge, hopefully you are starting to feel the wonderful benefits that regular meditation can have on your day.
What is Yoga Nidra
Nidra is a systematic form of guided relaxation. The meditation allows the practitioner to experience a level of deep relaxation that has the capacity to have a positive effect both physically and mentally. Developed from the nyasa meditation on tantra yoga, nidra is about being able to connect deeper to your conscious while being able to let go of any distractions. Essentially, this is ‘conscious sleep’ – after all in Sanskrit nidra does mean ‘sleep’!
5 Benefits of Yoga Nidra
Great for Aiding Sleep
Yoga nidra before bed is the perfect way to prepare your mind and body for the best nights sleep. In fact, you can even do it in bed so all you need to do is surrender fully into it. By settling the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and slowing down the wavelengths in your mind to put you into ‘dream state’ you will sleep soundly.
Reduces Tension in the Body
One of the first benefits of yoga nidra that you experience is the effect on your physical body. The body scan journey and the breath work creates a blissful sense of full body relaxation from the tips of your toes to the top of your head and everything in between! Even if this is the only benefit you get out of nidra, it will be worth it!
Helps with Anxiety
The relaxing effect that nidra has not only works on the tension in your muscles but also on your mind and nervous system! In some countries, meditation and yoga nidra is prescribed by GP’s as a way of helping with anxiety. It doesn’t work for everyone but, with zero negative side effects and other wonderful bonuses you have nothing to lose!
Create Space for Creativity
One of the unexpected side effects of yoga nidra is an increased sense of energy and creativity! By clearing out the cloudy thoughts, stress and negativity there is the chance to make way for new and exciting things! A lot of people experience a sense of increased creativity, positivity and a sense of personal power. Nidra uses the setting of a Sankalpa (an intention or positive affirmation) to start the process of altering negative thought patterns. Being able to sit peacefully with your own thoughts without a cloud of judgement can be liberating and sometimes, life changing.
Can Reduce Pain
It is no secret that the body only heals and recovers while we are asleep. Yoga nidra assists in the relaxation and restoration of the body and aids in recovery. This has a reduction in inflammation in the body and improves the functioning of the immune system. A great deal of the pain that way feel daily is to do with the stress and tension that we hold in our bodies. Just simply allowing ourselves 30 to 40 minutes of still and calm could be enough to help ease pain. Maybe both physical and, emotional.
You can often enjoy yoga nidras on our Advenure Yoga retreats. From our wellbeing weekends in the UK to post hike relaxations in Montenegro and the French Alps.
Join us live on social media for a blissful guided yoga nidra with our own teacher Louise. Follow the link here.
If you missed the live session dont worry, it will be up on our You Tube channel for you to enjoy any time you wish.