Yoga is a practice that most of us will be familiar with, but yoga nidra is very different to the poses and moves you may recognise; in fact, you don't move at all.
There are many different yoga nidra practices, all with different benefits depending on what you want to gain from it. In short, yoga nidra involves slowing everything right down, a deep relaxation, resting, technique which induces a state of ‘yogic sleep’ and is delivered via a form of guided meditation.
It’s one of my absolute favourites, a complete wind down and an opportunity to just stop. All you need is a pillow and somewhere comfortable.
The brilliant Rob da Bank has curated a selection of restorative yoga nidra sessions on the Happy Place app, to help refocus your mind and restore a sense of calm.
How did you discover yoga nidra?
Our amazing yoga teacher Laura Gate-Eastley used to drop nidras in occasionally at the end of a class and I quickly realised they were one of my favourite parts of the practice, and the depths of my meditations and improved sleepwere an added bonus!
How does yoga nidra differ from traditional yoga that readers may be familiar with?
The term yoga nidra can be a little bit misleading as there’s no need for a mat or to even move! But as with so many practices it does fall under the thousands-of-years-old Indian tradition of yoga. Essentially, it’s almost entirely non-physical in terms of movement and can be seen as a guided meditation, moving through a few different phases and mental exercises, for example an ‘out of body’ visualisation piece and a guided body relaxation
What are the benefits of yoga nidra?
Each person may have different benefits, but broadly speaking you drop out of your fight or flight state and into a deep parasympathetic phase which feels hugely relaxing and slightly otherworldly. Within 20 minutes you can feel like you’ve had a few hours sleep even though you didn’t fall asleep. So that makes it a great tool for the many that struggle with the effects of insomnia. So many benefits mentally and physically!
Can yoga nidra be practised on its own, or should it be paired with traditional yoga?
Absolutely fine to practise it alone and so many people do - many daily! It's a fantastic escape hatch from the insanity of 21st-century life. Having said that, it does flow well out of a physical yoga class too.
What is your advice for those who want to try yoga nidra for the first time?
Well, this isn’t a shameless plug but obviously you could try my nidras on the Happy Place app…! There are thousands of amazing nidras online too, you just need to find someone with perhaps the right voice, delivery and ideas behind their own creation of a yoga nidra.
What are your top tips to help people build Happy Habits this month and maintaining them to become part of daily life?
Maybe it’s as I enter middle age, but I think routine is the key to me feeling calmer and happierthan I used to. I could write an essay on my routine, but roughly speaking I recommend avoiding social media as soon as you wake up, try and meditate (even if it's a ten-minute guided one on an app), please do try and add 30 seconds of properly cold water to the end of your luxurious warm shower - it WILL change your day.
And make sure you listen to your mind and body and if you’re being totally overwhelmed take five minutes and do some breathwork (either learn two or three basic exercises or use an app again)... it will almost certainly get you back into some kind of positive direction!
Happy Place App is available to download on iOS from www.happyplaceofficial.co.uk/app/