“There is no physical movement during the practice. Each session is approximately 40 – 45 minutes.”
With the current and ongoing global situation, and its continuing effects upon our daily lives - our nervous systems are revved up more than ever. In our new way of living there’s an unusual surge of overstimulation due to our reliance on technology and screens as a means of connection with loved ones and work, and in our efforts to learn, play and entertain ourselves. As a result, our sympathetic nervous system is constantly switched on. The high levels of fear, stress and worry we are experiencing results in even more activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. Too much of this activity can be linked with increased anxiety, poor sleep, and general health problems, including a lowered immune system.
This practice involves a progressive movement of your awareness as you scan through different parts of the body. As you do this, you will likely experience and promote a sense of physical, emotional, and mental relaxation. Yoga Nidra relaxes the mind at the same time as relaxing the body and helps us to clear out the nerve pathways to the brain. Through regular practice of Yoga Nidra, we can counteract the effects of stress and hyperactivity in the frontal cortex by accessing different parts of the brain that can help us regulate interoceptive awareness, supporting a harmonious, restorative state and a greater balance between the different layers of body and mind.
When you start Yoga Nidra, your brain is generally in an active state of beta waves, a natural transitional experience as you start to slow down, and press “pause” on your day. The meditative practice then takes you into an alpha state, the brain wave frequency that links conscious thought with the subconscious mind. In the alpha state, Serotonin is released, which helps you to reach a transformational experience of inner calm. From this place fluctuations in the mind start to decrease and you begin to feel more at ease. The body moves into stillness and a deep feeling of tranquility and relaxation occurs. Following deeper into the practice the brain will then begin to emit delta waves, mimicking what happens when we enter a deep restful sleep.
The difference between deep sleep and Yoga Nidra is that you stay awake during this final phase. With such blissful relaxation and awareness, you are able to access your subconscious thoughts and process past memories in the present moment. Repressed and unprocessed grief can loosen their hold, tension and grip, whilst we can learn to find a little more freedom and detachment from unhelpful habits and thought patterns.
Contraindications to this practice are severe depression, severe trauma, and severe mental health conditions.”
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