Hello curious person
Yoga Nidra is a practice of conscious rest. Conscious rest is a state where your body and mind are completely relaxed as if you were asleep but you are still aware of what is going on. If you are a regular yoga practitioner, you will most likely have experienced this a few times in longer relaxations at the end of a movement class.
There are a variety of stages to Yoga Nidra. Each stage focuses your attention on different areas of yourself. This starts with your physical body, the most tangible of the layers, and guides you through to the bliss body (a state of calmness and reconnection), the least tangible of the layers.
You find a comfortable position (most commonly laying on your back in savasana/corpse pose) where you can be fully supported by the ground. This position allows you to release unneeded tension from your body and welcome a sense of heaviness. This is the position you stay in for the whole practice. Yoga Nidra, as a general practice, can vary in length from 15 to 60 minutes.
The experience of Yoga Nidra is completely lead by the facilitator. They deliver a script throughout the full process. All you need to do is listen to the sound of their voice as they lead you through the different stages. The facilitator has the freedom to add pauses, extend silences or even repeat certain sections as required.
Yoga Nidra is a wonderful practice that allows you to experience something unique. It allows you to place a time in your calendar to release and let the body slide into the rest and digest process. This is the perfect remedy to a long day or week. It is my favourite go-to when my tank is empty and needs a refill.
Thank you for taking the time to read this
Sam