Yoga Nidra is the traditional tantric practice of deep, conscious relaxation that was adapted by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. It is a meditation technique used for effectively imprinting new patterns on the mind and body, harmonizing the deeper unconscious states of the mind and awakening one’s inner potential. Through the practice of Yoga Nidra, we can induce a state of complete physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. This takes the mind into a hypnogogic state, the threshold state between sleep and wakefulness, where contact with the subconscious and unconscious dimensions occur spontaneously. This occurs by turning away from outer experiences, then shifting the consciousness to function at a deeper level of inner awareness. Through this practice of pratyahara—withdrawal of sense organs—the mind becomes one-pointed by concentrating on the auditory channel through a sequence of a guided meditation. Here, the focus in on the receptivity of consciousness which becomes very powerful and can be applied in many ways making impressions on the mind and body much greater and more powerful.

* The ability to meditate is not necessary. With Yoga Nidra, one can receive the benefits of meditation without knowing how to effectively quiet the mind or relax the body. Through the guided practices, this will happen naturally.