Yoga Nidra is defined as yogic sleep or sleep with awareness. It is a method of complete relaxation, guided by a trained teacher. The history of Yoga Nidra practices date back to the Hindu text, the Upanishads. As with any new exercise program, you should always consult with your doctor first.
Upanishads
The Upanishads, considered one of the classics of Indian spirituality, are a collection of texts, dating back thousands of years. The Mandukya Upanishad holds the first mention of deep sleep, or Yoga Nidra. This text explains the four states of consciousness and how to be aware of them. By observing the four states, detachment from negative mental conditioning occurs, allowing for deep relaxation.
The Founder of Yoga Nidra
Param Yogeshwar Sri Devpuriji was known as a spiritual master in India and developed Yoga Nidra. He spent most of his life teaching from his ashram in Kailash and died in 1942. One of his disciples, Sri Deep Narayan Mahaprabhuji, began teaching his Yoga Nidra technique in 1880. Sri Devpuriji also shared his method with Swami Sivananda and Swami Muktananda, who shared the technique with many others throughout India.
The First Text
In 1974, a book explaining how to practice Yoga Nidra was written by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. He studied with Swami Sivananda, one of the first people to receive the teachings of Yoga Nidra. "Yoga Nidra," the book, discusses the theory as well as provides instructions. This book inspired many modern practitioners and teachers of Yoga Nidra to refine their versions of the practice.
Modern Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra is becoming popular. More studios are now offering classes in the practice. Also, Yoga Nidra teacher training courses are available and guided audio CDs are available for purchase. Depending on who your teacher is, the number of steps in Yoga Nidra will vary. Clinical psychologist Richard C. Miller teaches a 12-step Yoga Nidra. Some methods are shorter and are taught in as few as four steps.
References
- "Yoga Journal" magazine: In Need of Yoga Nidra
- "Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy"; Mukunda Stiles; 2007
- The Upanishads; Eknath Easwaran, 2007
- SwamiJ: Yoga Nidra
- Word IQ: Yoga Nidra
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