"Humankind is being led along an evolving course, through this migration of intelligence and though we seem to be sleeping there is an inner wakefulness, that directs the dream and that will eventually startle us back to the truth of who we are."

—Rumi

Yoga Nidra means 'yogic sleep' and requires nothing of you. It is really a state of being, that's 'being' not 'doing'. So you lie down and do nothing apart from a loose connection to my voice, until you can 'be'.

I have to confess when I went to a Nidra weekend; I thought Yoga Nidra was just a way of relaxing, little did I know it's the Mille- Feuille of deep relaxation and healing. The senses are withdrawn, except hearing (Pratyahara), and you become aware of an inner consciousness, which in turn takes you to this deep place within yourself.

In this deep state of neither sleeping or awake, healing arises in areas out of synch, a reboot of the hard drive, if you like. Sometimes returning to a factory setting takes out fears and habits, for example I had dreadful arachnophobia and would not be in the same place as a spider. I now can be in the same space or gently remove them. You become revitalised, it's a nourishment of the physical, mental and emotional body.

It promotes deep healing and relaxation and allows the body to balance at a biochemical level. There is change in the brainwaves from beta to theta and even delta and this deep physical rest allows the body and mind to repair and heal. It's effective for insomnia, stress, anxiety and depression, adrenal fatigue, posttraumatic stress, pain relief and simply just for a good old rest. It can help PMT and fertility. It also encourages creativity, improves productivity and even enhances memory.

Throughout history, important inventions, classic plays, poems, songs and even battle strategy have been attributed to Yoga Nidra. It came to me in a dream…. Sound familiar.

Nothing is as good for us as sleep, but this yogic sleep or yoga Nidra is fast acting, so 30 minutes of Nidra is the equivalent of 3 to 4  hour's sleep. Time to rest everyone.