The science behind Yoga Nidra is over 6000 years old. This ancient practice is a portal to Samadhi, or total liberation as the yogis call it. Here lies the power behind self healing.
Today over 85% of medical expenses are stress related. Stress is the trigger of such diseases as diabetes, cancer and other auto immune maladies. It is also the causal factor of insomnia, PTSD and addictions. Recent scientific studies are repeatedly showing that Yoga Nidra is one of the most effective ways of treating stress.
There are basically four states of consciousness. We are either awake thinking and doing, asleep and dreaming or in a deep dreamless restorative sleep. The fourth state is “Turyia”. In that narrow space in between thoughts is the vast field of awareness. Once you cross that invisible boundary between Ego and true Self your sense of “I” is totally disengaged.
In this capacity of complete presence, you are freed from your thoughts, fears, expectations and anticipations. You are liberated from your self-image but on a conscious level. This brainwave state is similar to that of transcendental meditation and is conductive to accelerated learning and healing.
While, on a healing level, Hatha Yoga works with sensations in the body to clear mental and emotional blocks, Yoga Nidra accesses the bliss body, the furthermost layer of our being, to address physical manifestations of disease. The techniques used in the practice progressively slow down brain waves from beta to alpha, to theta, and all the way to delta the frequency associated with deep dreamless sleep, while you remain fully aware and awake.
The Yoga of Sleep is practiced lying down in a comfortable position. As you remain still, you are guided into a deep and relaxed state of surrender. In this state you can easily work with intentions and affirmations. Here resistances of all kind fall away. Mental, emotional, energetic and physical blocks are released. Tensions melt away.
As you dis-identify with your persona, you are able to step back and see that you are not your unconscious thoughts, emotions and reactions. This space also allows you to withdraw from your automatic habits and engage in deliberate behaviors. Through the conscious use of intention you are able to guide your life in the direction you want it to go creating new channels of thought. The balance of the body is restored and the body mind complex returns to a natural state of integration.
