Letting go of ego
and false ideas.
In the stillness
We observe clearly.
With clarity of perception
we act in harmony with
the present moment.
To transform oneself into stillness
and reside in love, understanding
and compassion.
This is yoga, the state of Being,
that is our natural resting place.
Copyright © 2008 Russell Smithers
Yoga Nidra puts a person into a state of awareness that is completely relaxed both physically and mentally, you are on the threshold of sleep but not sleeping. Being in this state has many benefits that are outside the scope of this article, although, in short because you have relaxed everything you are allowing all aspects of you physical and mental body to rest.
Yoga Nidra helps with stress, psychological disorders, memory, insomnia, addiction, pain relief, pregnancy, childbirth, menstrual disorders, geriatric medicine, blood pressure, cancer treatment and psychosomatic diseases. More information can be found in the the book “Yoga Nidra” by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.
The best way to understand Yoga Nidra is to practice it for yourself. I know this because I have seen the benefits of Yoga Nidra in only the first few sessions, but also I have seen the longer term benefits of other yoga practices such as; Ashtanga Primary series, Meditation, Shanmukhi Mudra and studying yogic philosophy; therefore, I would recommend trying Yoga Nidra and seeing the results for yourself.
Practising this technique is easy, you lie down and listen to instructions either from a CD or in class. I am using the CD “Experience Yoga Nidra: Guided deep relaxation” by Swami Janakananda Saraswati, this only lasts 21 minutes, I am using it when I get in from work because it helps me make the most of my spare time. Early morning and before going to bed are also good times. Instructions and a description are included on the enclosed leaflet.
Yoga Nidra is a form of pratyahara as described in the Patanjali’s yoga sutras. Those practicing the physical Ashtanga yoga practice (asana practice/Hatha yoga) as made famous by Pattabhi Jois will find this supplements their daily asana practice, although at the moment I have limited experience of this benefit at the time of writing.
Physical yoga (asana) and Yoga Nidra support each other. Practicing physical yoga helps free the body and reduce distractions during Yoga Nidra. Where as practicing Yoga Nidra helps you be in a better position to practice asanas. Asana practice (hatha yoga) was designed specifically to help people meditate without bodily distractions, and Yoga Nidra is a form of meditation.
Copyright © 2008 Russell Smithers
Trying to understand the true nature of reality – that which is beyond the immediately obvious – is like trying to understand nature (planets, sun, stars, people, hills, animals, rivers) when you have only ever existed inside a box, having never seen the outside world.
Until you break free of the box and see the vast outside world, you can never hope to realise the vastness due to your ignorance. You are limited by your senses, but once you have broken out of the box and witnessed nature for yourself you no longer need to believe, for you know it to be true.
It is in the same way as someone born in a box becomes free of it by breaking through to the outside world, that we, like a box within a box, are born from one box (our mothers womb) in another box (the world), and yet we take this box (the outer world) to be all there is. Where did the consciousness come from that animates the baby, is the world not a box to be broken free from?
Copyright © 2008 Russell Smithers