Who couldn’t use some extra shut-eye?  Sleep is vital to our health and sleep experts tell us we need an average of eight hours at a shot.  Even if there’s time for sleep, many of us have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep.  Let’s take a look yoga nidra and sleep.  Yoga nidra can help in replenishing ourselves, can be used as a natural sleep aid, and more.

Yoga nidra  means “yogic sleep” and has many documented benefits for your body, mind, and spirit. It is when your bodymind is actually in deep sleep but with one big difference – you remain consciously aware. This is done by going through a series of techniques to systematically get physically, energetically, mentally, emotionally relaxed.  In addition, yoga nidra sparks intuition, unconditional joy, and a timeless, spacious sense of being.  Witness consciousness is experienced and even surpassed.  Due to the fertile brainwave states experienced, it’s also entirely possible to make positive behavior and personality changes. See the yoga nidra FAQ on setting intentions and sankalpas here.

In fact, while not a substitute for actual sleep, one hour of yoga nidra practice is equivalent to four hours of sleep.  This is due to the series of brain waves experienced along the way.  (Saraswati 1998, Kumar 2008) With practice, you’ll eventually be able to enter the delta brainwave state but remain aware.  It resembles what it feels like to be on the verge of being awake and asleep. The conscious experience of deep sleep is what makes it so restorative and unique.

Yoga nidra can also be practiced at bedtime as a sleep aid.  Layer after layer of stress is cleared out so it doesn’t follow you to bed and disturb sleeping.  Using yoga nidra techniques as a sleep aid should not be confused with the yoga nidra experience itself.  Be careful or you will find it difficult to practice yoga nidra itself and will fall into deep sleep instead.

Yogic sleep is also a play on words of sorts.  It refers to how most of us are walking around “asleep” and unaware of our True Self, the indestructible aspect in each of us that is already peaceful, joyful, wise, soulful, luminous, and loving.  Whereas, the yogi is awake to one’s True Self no matter what the state of consciousness – waking, dreaming, deep sleep.  Realizing this enables us to recognize the true nature of oneself and reality so we are not swayed by the changeability and unpredictability of thoughts, feelings, beliefs and such.  Yoga nidra helps us experience and realize this.

In short, yoga nidra is super sleep!

How to Experience Yoga Nidra 

Like all worthwhile things, regular practice yields the best results.

1. Listen to Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation | Audible – iTunes – Amazon
2. Read about it and get free audio downloads in Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief (New Harbinger, 2015).
3. Experience yoga nidra on video/audio.
4. Attend a virtual yoga nidra class held weekly on Zoom.
5. Take a yoga nidra teacher training course and earn a certificate.
6. Get a book or audio below.

Get Related article:

• Sleep Solutions: Yoga-Style

Resources: Books, Recordings & More

Get yoga nidra downloads here.

Sleep Well | Yoga Nidra CD

Use deep relaxation, soothing flute music & ocean waves to go to sleep. "I slept like a log." Downloads available. By Julie Lusk, Yoga Nidra Meditations author.

Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief - Print Book & Audio download

Yoga Nidra can stop tension in its tracks with a wonderfully, powerful & unique state of deep relaxation, mental clarity & insightful awareness. These practical, empowering relaxation exercises, meditations that soothe and visualizations that renew are based on classic yoga and backed by modern science. They’ll help you unwind, replenish, and feel refreshed with durable peace and unconditional joy. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...

NEW! Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation

Experience peace and deeply restorative rest that heals your body, mind & spirit. Features 24 Yoga Nidra scripts written by author Julie Lusk and 12 of the world's master teachers. Enjoy 6 levels of relaxation for a joyful meditative experience. Learn to use yogic sleep to revitalize your inner reservoir of intuitive understanding and unconditional joy. Audiobook available. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...

Yoga Nidra Essentials CD

Find your calm spot. Brighten your energy. Enjoy a more meaningful life. Experience 6 levels of relaxation. Reclaim optimal health for your body, mind & heart. Laura says "My focused mind easily. I was 100% worry-free. It's wonderful." By Julie Lusk, 6-time author. Digital downloads available.

Julie Lusk, MEd, E-RYT 500, has over 35 years of expertise in stress relief, yoga, relaxation training, guided imagery, and meditation as an international author, recording artist, and workshop leader. Julie is the author of Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief, Yoga Meditations, two volumes of 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing, and Desktop Yoga®. Her CDs include Wholesome Relaxation, Power of Presence, Blue Moon Rising, and many others. Learn more at WholesomeResources.com

Chakras: Subtle Energy Centers

→ Page Includes Complete Chakra Chart with helpful instructions

Each of us has has seven primary subtle energy centers called chakras. Chakras are considered as one of the most important indicators of a person’s health and well-being.

Traditionally, the seven primary chakras are described as spinning wheels of subtle energy that span from the base of the spine to the crown of the head.

Chakras guide the developmental stages of our body, mind, and emotions, and awaken our potential as spiritual beings. The chakras are referenced in the yogic wisdom books dating back five thousand years. Many medical, mental health, spiritual and mind-body professionals now seek to understand and apply the ancient knowledge of the chakras within their field of expertise.

Each of the seven chakras is associated with and has an influence on physical locations in the body as well as on adjacent muscles, organs, glands, and nerves. Yogis believe they house the guiding intelligence of prana, the universal energy of life.

Furthermore, each is related to stages of psychological growth and human development and has lessons to guide us through life that are integral to our soul’s journey.

Because they are energetic rather than physical structures, they are not considered to part of our physical anatomy.  They can be described as psycho-energetic or psycho-spiritual centers located in the subtle body. Like magnetism existing within an iron magnet, they exist within the body without having a physical presence.

Each chakra is associated with color, crystals, sounds, goddess archetypes, yoga postures, healing and balancing colors, an element, and sounds.

Establishing and maintaining balance throughout all the chakras is optimal since one chakra is not particularly better than the others. Chakra energy currents move both vertically and horizontally. When the chakras are unbalanced with either excessive or deficient energy, the result is physical, mental, emotional or spiritual difficulties. Fortunately, a wide range of techniques exists to open, align, and activate the chakras.

The chakra chart provides information to further your understanding and growth.  It was originally published in Yoga Meditations: Timeless Mind-Body Practices in 2005 and  is continually updated to include more information.

Chakra Chart

This Chakra Chart (C) is for personal use only and not duplication.  It is reprinted with permission from Julie’s Yoga Meditation book.  Order your own beautiful 8.5 x 14″  full-color laminated chart below. Volume orders are welcome. Contact us. 

How to use the Chakra Chart for healing and balancing yourself

Begin by familiarizing yourself with the names, locations, and characteristics of each chakra. Here are some ideas for getting started.

• Balanced Chakra Energy: Maintain balance with continued healthy attitudes, behaviors, emotions and appropriate yoga postures, breathing practices and activities.
• Unbalanced Chakra Energy: Examine the chakras’ lessons, rights, responsibilities and challenges to determine what areas need improvement and make suitable changes. Practice the breathing practices, yoga postures and other healing activities and healthy behaviors. Set an intention and enhance it with the musical notes, instruments and crystals. Practice self-care and get competent help from others as needed.  In addition:
• Excessive Chakra Energy: Use the chakras’ balancing color. Chant or sing the vowel sounds to send and release excess energy. “Too much of a good thing” is harmful so decrease behaviors that are excessive.
• Deficient Chakra Energy: Use the chakras’ emanating color. Chant or sing the Bija mantra sounds to increase and attract energy.

Don’t be mistaken by seeing this information boxed into columns and rows. The lines are there to help clarify the information.  Think of it as an intermingling or as a gradual blending. It’s somewhat like how the colors in a rainbow gradually transform from one shade to another and at the same time a color can stand on its own.

Ultimately, there is no separation.  We are in a unified field of oneness that is as directionless and timeless as it is spacious.  http://JulieLusk.com

Yoga Meditations features the full chakra chart, guided meditations for each chakra, a full description and picture of a yoga posture for each chakra as well as all the other information described below.

Yoga Meditations: Timeless Mind-Body Practices - Book & CD set

Awaken joy, peace and inspiration with this yoga meditations book. Yoga Meditations contains a wide variety of mind-body practices, such as: * Guided relaxation exercises * Breathing practices * Yoga Nidra * Meditations and guided imagery * Affirmations * Yoga postures and meditations for each chakra * Yoga wisdom for contemplation Get a FREE Wholesome Energizers CD in every book! CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...

Chakra Chart

Finally! A complete Chakra Chart with all the chakra names, locations, colors, sounds, yoga postures, breathing techniques, psychological & energetic influences and more. There's handy tips for using the chart on the reverse side. It's 8 1/2 by 14" and laminated. CLICK on the blue title link above to find out more...

Chakra-Based Guided Meditations

Real Relaxation Yoga Nidra takes you into a deeply relaxing and powerful restful state of being fully aware while being in the state of deep yogic sleep.  It helps with balancing chakra energy, and can improve immunity, heart health, relieve stress and give you inner peace and balance.

Get it from Amazon, iTunes, Spotify & other online

stores.

Handy Links

• Learn about chakras and their influences | Get your Complete Chakra Chart
• Chakra Balancing with Sound Healing. Use the Elemental Chakra Tone Chart to balance your chakra energy by either increasing or decreasing their energy with sound, color, and special mantras. The Vedic (Yoga) and Tibetan notes and tones are given. It’s fun.
• How to balance chakra energy with toning and hand & finger movements called mudras.
• Get info related to chakra elements, directions, sounds, senses, and other attributes 
• Chakra Energy Flow Meditation
• Understanding OM | AUM
• Book a Musical Sound Bath session