Yoga nidra is a practice of deep relaxation and visualization used to bring the senses inward, release old patterns, and bring consciousness to the unconscious aspects of the self. It deeply affects manomaya kosha, the mental/emotional body and is one of the finest tools for healing and refining the vynjanamaya kosha, the wisdom body. In yoga nidra we learn to consciously relax our physical, mental and emotional selves to access deeper parts of our psyches.
Pratyahara is the branch of the wheel of yoga necessary for developing the ability to experience dhyana, dharana, and Samadhi. Yoga nidra is a pratyahara practice with its roots in the tantras, a practice called nyasa. In the practice of nyasa, sacred images or symbols are placed through out the body with our conscious mind. The intention was also to relax the body/mind, but also to transmute the body into a body of light, energy and intelligence. In nyasa, as with yoga nidra, all the senses are engaged fully. Yoga nidra is not about concentrating. The concentration aspect of the yoga practice happens in Dharana and Dhyana. It is instead a deepening of the awareness into the unconscious aspects of the mind and self.
We begin to access the right and left brains and practice mental exercises in the state of deep relaxation that help us to balance both sides of our mind, increase their ability to communicate, become aware of and release old patterns. Both sides of the brain become agile and strengthened so that we can use our mental faculties more clearly and work with our emotions in positive ways instead of having them running out of control. We develop a participatory relationship with all our mental faculties.
The reduction of habitual thought patterns is key in healing and strengthening the being and integrating ourselves to become whole.
Our practice of yoga nidra is a multi step experience that systematically moves through all the channels of communication in the mind and most areas of the brain. As the parasympathetic branch is accessed and developed, relaxation and regeneration is deeply enhanced. The body is invited to relax deeply down to the last detail, emotions are experienced with out judgment, we use the practice as an archetypal journey towards healing, health, integration, and our true selves.