What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra, known as yogic sleep, is a type of meditation that allows someone to experience full mental, physical and emotional relaxation. It helps alleviate stress and many people use it as a tool for sleep! In fact, yogic texts state that one hour of yoga nidra is equivalent to four hours of sleep!
Personally, I use it to help me sleep and relax during stressful times, especially when my brain won’t shut off!
It can help people lean into their life regardless of the situation or circumstance and support them to discover that there is nothing to fix, heal or change.
Click each video below to see Jenn, Allison & Shauna answer your questions in a 2-min video answer! (each video will start at the specific question)
What if I fall asleep?
It’s okay if you fall asleep. Yoga Nidra will meet you where you are. If you need to sleep then it will help you sleep. If you need more energy then it will give you more energy.
What is the difference between Yoga Nidra and Meditation?
Although the two are similar and induce similar brain waves, yoga nidra also involves the use of a sankalpa, a resolution for our life. A sankalpa is a statement of your Heart’s Desire.
When we use a sankalpa, we allow this resolve of our heart to enter into the deeper levels of our subconscious. What you believe about yourself will come true.
Meditation or Medication?
“Is your meditation feeding you in a way that you’re a more kinder, more compassionate person, not just towards others, but towards yourself?
Because if we’re not careful, we can use our meditation as a medication from feeling real life.
And we all know that the more we put up the resistance patterns of just not meeting ourselves in our meditation practice, then we put that out into the world of not being able to meet the world is it comes to us on an ongoing basis.”
What is iRest?
“iRest protocol is a step by step process to feel into each of these layers of our being so that we can integrate back to the true remembrance of wholeness that we are.
The principle behind the Yoga Nidra and particularly iRest, is that everybody is wanting to feel a sense of connection, a sense of belonging, a sense of being seen and a sense of being heard.
And so if we are integrating that into the Yoga Nidra or into our meditation practice, there’s a very good chance that it’s going to create a more expansive state.”
What are the different “styles” of Yoga Nidra? Are there certifications for teachers?
There are many different styles of yoga Nidra and ways to get certified.
Want to teach yoga nidra in your yoga class? Download my free 20-minute script! I also love to sprinkle this in to my guided savasana.
Is there a specific time frame for a class?
Technically no, but there is a difference between Savasana, meditation and yoga Nidra. I often like to sprinkle in aspects of yoga Nidra into a guided savasana.
Will yoga nidra help me sleep better?
DEFINITELY! Yoga Nidra will help you experience a deep sense of relaxation in your body, soul and mind.
How Jen teaches in her community
About Jen:
Jen Brennan is a Holistic Health Practitioner who empowers women to discover a deep connection within themselves that unlocks more joy in their daily life. She is passionate about helping others in times of stress, transition & loss.
Check out Jen’s online program: https://www.facebook.com/DeepRestore/
Visit Jen online: http://www.yogabathandbody.com
Quotes from the interview
Yoga Nidra takes you from the waking state, the thinking state, all the way through the different levels of the brain waves that release you into deep relaxation.
With Yoga Nidra, we want to be able to navigate through these different layers of brain wave states and still be aware.
It can be super challenging for people to enter into a Yoga Nidra if they’re used to being on the go all the time because we actually invite in deep relaxation by laying down and resting and stillness so that they can enter into the deeper states where healing can happen and more awareness can shine through.
Another difference between Yoga Nidra and regular meditation is that it’s a deep practice of welcoming and also befriending life in the body.
I’ll never forget the moment when I was drinking a cup of tea and for some reason Oprah was on Super Soul Sunday and somebody said, “if your meditation practice is not benefiting those around you, it’s not very powerful.” When I heard that, I realized my form of meditation was causing more separation. I could only find meditation in specific states. I had to have stillness in order for it to feel like it was working.
And yet Yoga Nidra is you walking in life, walking through life, feeling everything as it is.
iRest protocol is a step by step process to feel into each of these layers of our being so that we can integrate back to the true remembrance of wholeness that we are.
It’s trying to lead you into a place where you remember that your true nature is really this wellbeing of vitality, of joy and of love.
The more you practice, the more the practice remembers you. It becomes part of your life. It lives through you.
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