What is Yogic Sleep?
The ultimate sleep aid. A life-changing practice. Available to everyone.
Sleep. Do you need more of it?
The type of meditation that I teach is called Yoga Nidra or ‘Yogic Sleep’.
The benefits of this ancient practice are plenty. There are two main elements
Or “Life Hacks”;
Life Hack #1!
Mind Reprogramming
Here’s what you need to know.
When you are relaxed and the conscious mind is also in a deeply relaxed state, the subconscious mind is holding down the fort. The subconscious mind informs the conscious mind. The beliefs we hold in our subconscious will shape our lives. Whether you like it or not, if you believe you’re not worthy of love, you could consciously meet the most amazingly loving people but true love will allude you because the majority of your actions will be driven and guided by your limiting subconscious beliefs. So this is the perfect time to plant seeds of change into the fertile soil of the subconscious mind- when you have its full attention! In this state, during the meditation, I encourage students to focus on a strong and meaningful intention with absolute conviction. For example “I am worthy of love”.
Other options could be “I am safe”, “Abundance flows to me effortlessly”, or “I am calm and kind”. With continued practice and with the use of a powerful resolve or ‘Sankalpa’ (the Sanskrit word for it), positive changes will begin to sprout and bloom in your day-to-day life. It’s brilliant and beautiful and I have seen so much amazing change in the people I have worked with.
Life Hack #2!
Deep Deep Restorative Rest
For the nervous system, mind and the whole body.
When the body is in ‘fight or flight’ mode, stress hormones are allowed to flood the body causing imbalances and disease. The goal is to spend as much time as possible out of this high-stress state of course, but more effective healing happens when the body is actually in a deeper state. The parasympathetic state. It is here where the body can do what it was designed to do which is to heal, restore and rejuvenate. It does this effortlessly. The body was designed to function this way. But we give our bodies too much to process both mentally and physically which means the body rarely gets into this juicy healing state. Social media noise, dopamine hits from notifications, a fast-paced “go, go, go” culture, poor diet, stimulants like alcohol and coffee and chemical-laden everything from moisturiser to mushrooms. The body tries to neutralise and normalise these things on the go but if there are toxins to filter out and an anxious mind to calm, then the body is on the back foot. Too busy healing the liver from alcohol overconsumption to find time to kill pre-cancer cells and too busy processing the thoughts and experiences of an anxious and active mind to effectively file away and process new information and experiences in the brain.
Giving yourself time to get into a really deep state of relaxation is definitely the life -and health- hack #2!
How to set up for a practice and what to expect
The first thing to think about when you’re setting up for your practice of yoga nidra is “How can I be the most comfortable?” This is the time you’ve carved out for you. Your relaxation and mental health. Making sure you give yourself the best possible chance of slipping into the world of melty, cosy, indulgent meditation is paramount.
It might look something like this:
Find a calm and quiet place - making sure people or animals in the house/space won’t disturb you. Turn off any technology that might *ping!
Set the scene - by dimming the lights, perhaps lighting a candle or using your favourite aromatherapy oil in a diffuser.
Wrap yourself in comfort - wear loose-fitting and super comfy clothes, a warm jumper and socks and an eye pillow if you’re unable to dim the lights.
Feel supported - by lying on a comfy yoga mat, sofa or bed, using a very thin pillow or folded blanket under the head, a rolled up blanket or bolster under the knees if you tend to suffer from any back stiffness or pain and most importantly, cover the body with a blanket as the body temperature tends to drop a few degrees during this sort of relaxation practice. If you find that there are still body parts that feel like they need some extra love or support please take the time to find appropriate cushioning or warmth before you begin. Comfort is key.
Each and every practice will be different. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional no practice will be like another. The most common feelings during a practice are ones of deep rest, complete surrender and peace. Of course, occasionally feelings of confusion or sadness may arise and these feelings are just the body’s way of releasing negative past experiences, beliefs or trauma from the body and mind. The practice of Nidra can feel like a detox. Images and memories will be released from the subconscious and sometimes we are aware of them as this happens. Sometimes we are not. I will always advise students to pay attention to each and every sensation or thought throughout the session, no matter the quality of that experience, because gentle and compassionate acceptance of “what is” in each given moment is the first step on the healing and self-improvement journey.
If you are curious about any other elements of this practice or if you have any concerns please contact me. I’d love to discuss this with you.