Yoga Nidra: A Magical Tool For Mental Health & Menstrual Disorders

What if I told you that you could lie down, awake, and listen to a meditation for 30 minutes, but feel like you had napped for 3 or 4 hours?

Does it sound good to be true?

It's possible, and it's called Yoga Nidra, which translates to 'yogic sleep'.

In this post, I'll explain:

• What Is Yoga Nidra

• What To Expect While Practicing Yoga Nidra

• What Happens To Your Brain & Body

• Why It's Great For Mental Health

• Why It's Great For Menstrual Disorders & PMDD

And at the end, I'll give you a link to a FREE Yoga Nidra for PMDD!

What Is Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra is a form of guided meditation that is done in a supine position (lying down). The goal of Yoga Nidra is to guide you into states of rest and relaxation that are similar to a deep sleep. Traditionally, one would lie in savasana, or corpse pose, but you're welcome to choose a more comfortable position and use pillows or blankets for support.

Basically, all you need to do is lie down and listen (easiest yoga ever!)

Yoga Nidra can be practiced live and in-person at a yoga studio, live online over video, or pre-recorded and available on-demand. I like to do all three, but personally I find live and in-person to be the most effective and deep experience. Stick around until the end of this post for a link to a free Yoga Nidra for PMDD!

Yoga Nidra is primarily different from other forms of meditation in that you're lying down. Just like in other forms of meditation, your mind may wander and you might get distracted, and that's okay - the act of realizing this has happened and bringing your attention back to the present is part of the process.

However, there is less importance placed on intense focus or concentration. In fact, as you reach deeper states of rest and relaxation, you may feel as though you have fallen asleep (you might actually fall asleep, and that's ok too). As long as your ears are open and listening, your subconscious will still receive the guidance of your teacher. There is literally no wrong way to do Yoga Nidra.

What To Expect While Practicing Yoga Nidra

There are several stages of involved with Yoga Nidra, but there are five core components of every practice. These components correspond with the Pancha Maya Koshas, or the five layers of the self. The idea is that you release stress or tension in each area, moving progressively deeper into the more subtle aspects of the self, while at the same time, moving into deeper states of rest and relaxation.

Introduction:

The beginning of a Yoga Nidra practice generally involves a greeting, guidance on getting comfortable, and a short mini-meditation t