By Pritika Nair
It’s fascinating to see how Yoga Nidra—where we literally “do nothing”—can work wonders for our body and mind. I believe Yoga Nidra is just as rejuvenating as sleep, if not more. Let’s explore why.
Yoga Nidra can be better than sleep
My first impression of the term “Yoga Nidra” was “sleep during yoga.” But after a teacher from the Art of Living, Dinesh Kashikar, explained it to me, I realized it’s not yoga sleep. He said that when you act with awareness (when your mind isn’t wandering), the process becomes stronger and faster. And I thought, that’s really true.
He explained that Yoga Nidra is a calm state of the mind, but when we add awareness to it, it becomes Yoga Nidra. When we are consciously aware of different parts of our body, relaxation becomes much more effective. But when we sleep, we switch off from everything, and the relaxation is incomplete in some areas. I’m always surprised how I can fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow, and yet wake up in the morning feeling tired and drained, as if I hadn’t slept at all!
When I began practicing Yoga Nidra after my morning yoga routine, I felt more rested than ever before. My daily dose of Yoga Nidra not only energizes my body but also calms my mind. I work better with a clear and focused mind.
Often, emotional and mental experiences can carry over from the previous day. But ever since I started practicing Yoga Nidra, I’ve been wiping them clean with my yoga routine. It’s like someone presses the “refresh” button. Following the Yoga Nidra instructions brings a sense of complete bliss.
Vinita Nishit, a participant in an Art of Living course, echoed my thoughts by saying,
“On days when I’m feeling low and my mind is full of unnecessary negativity, I lie down for a short Yoga Nidra session, and everything suddenly changes. I feel much more recharged, and my mind is clear. I think positively, and my energy to work is enormous.”
Experience deep relaxation with Yoga Nidra
Beyond its benefits off the mat, Yoga Nidra enhances your yoga practice itself. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “It’s very important to include Yoga Nidra at the end of every asana because your body and mind need time to assimilate the effects of the poses.”
Yoga Nidra also helps refresh the body and restore its normal temperature.
Sometimes, after doing intense yoga poses, you may feel mild muscle soreness due to stretching. According to an article in The New York Times, when the body undergoes intense physical activity, calcium ions flow into muscle cells, causing contractions and a feeling of fatigue. A similar process happens after an active yoga session.
That’s why it’s essential to relax in Yoga Nidra for a while—to allow the blood to flush out these chemical residues and help your body relax more deeply.
Meditation works beautifully with Yoga Nidra
As I continue my yoga practice with pranayama and meditation, I’ve realized the vital role that Yoga Nidra plays in preparing the body and mind for a meditative state.
Earlier, I struggled to meditate when I jumped into it right after exercising, but Yoga Nidra made the transition to meditation much easier.
By directing our attention to different parts of the body, we activate the nervous system, which increases relaxation and deepens the meditative process.
The more you practice Yoga Nidra, the better it gets. Yoga Nidra is like a “super nap” that recharges you instantly. It’s a complete rejuvenation kit—a must-have to release ourselves from daily stress in this fast-paced world.
