The Deeply Rested Mother
I often get asked, “what is Yoga Nidra?” Though the literal translation of Yoga Nidra is ‘yogic sleep’ its not actually sleep at all. Yoga Nidra takes you on a journey into the inner space of consciousness to receive the gift of self-inquiry, healing and restoration.
How does it work?
Yoga Nidra is practiced in the most comfortable position for your body, that can mean lying down on your back, lying on your side or even in a chair with as many, or as little, cushions and blankets you might need.
You are invited to listen to the guided voice, but it is OK if you do not focus or concentrate on what is being said, you really do not need to do anything at all. As you begin to settle into comfort, you will be guided to slowly rotate your attention around the physically body. You will then be invited to move through more subtle layers of your body, that are also known as koshas in Sanskrit. These layers are accessed through breathing techniques, visualisations, inviting sensations into the body and even positive affirmations, and what we find under all these layers is the sweet spot- the liminal space; the space of gifts.
What can Yoga Nidra do for me?
While you are in Yoga Nidra State, the brain travels through various stages of consciousness; moving from beta (daily mental activity) through to cortical theta (half-sleep drowsy state that can help regulate cortisol levels and aid metabolised activity) and into delta brain wave activity (state of deep sleep).
Journeying through these stages of consciousness, Yoga Nidra can support deep healing and help integrate emotional, cognitive and psychological challenges being experienced and act as a portal for creative solutions to come through into our everyday waking state (remember the liminal space, this is IT).
Yoga Nidra works directly with the nervous system, helping us to flip the switch from being stuck in the sympathetic nervous system responses of “fight or flight”, and shift into a more restful and peaceful place of awareness, where deep healing can occur. Regular practice often leads to a reduction in stress and improves sleep.
I believe Yoga Nidra to be the door way to deep healing and rest, and from this place we are able to bring in more presence into our life to listen in to the wisdom that is available.
The practice of Yoga Nidra supports us to claim back our right to be a rested Mother, we begin to work through the layers of generational fatigue in our maternal lineage and gain access to our subconscious, our intuition, our creativity and insights; our gifts.
Would you like to get curious about your relationship with rest? Get your FREE 7 day Rest and Rise email course claim your right to rest and make more space for yourself.
Stay gentle with yourself.