Inner Stillness Like Lord Vishnu & The Origin of Yoga Nidra
The origin of Yoga Nidra reaches back to the oldest form of yoga, to the cosmic sleep of ancient times. The Hindu epic Mahabharata points to that origin and ties it to Lord Vishnu. In the deep sleep of yoganidra, Vishnu rests on the serpent Shesha in the Ksheera Sagara, the ocean of milk. This is the image of cosmic slumber, the state in which creation, preservation and dissolution exist side by side.
The origin of Yoga Nidra can be traced to the old Indian yoga traditions, rooted deep in the Upanishads and the Tantras. It carries nidra, Sanskrit for sleep, together with practices such as pratyahara, the withdrawal of the senses, and dharana, concentration.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati made the modern form widely known in the middle of the twentieth century with his book Yoga Nidra.
Link to the book: Yoga Nidra: Saraswati, Swami Satyananda: Amazon.de: Stationery & Office Supplies
Yoga Nidra, also called yogic sleep, is a guided meditation and relaxation technique. You lie down comfortably and follow the instructions into a state of deep relaxation while staying fully aware. The practice builds profound stillness, lowers stress and improves general wellbeing.
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Although Yoga Nidra is a form of meditation, it is associated with the wider discipline of yoga because of its historical links. The word yoga in Yoga Nidra points to its roots in ancient yogic texts and to its alignment with pratyahara and dharana among the eight limbs of classical yoga.
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In a fast moving world where stillness is hard to find, where there is no time to breathe and work stress catches up with you until it almost presses you flat, the popularity of Yoga Nidra has risen sharply, for good reasons:
Deep relaxation helps you handle stress and builds composure.It improves concentration and mental clarity even among distractions.It offers deep recovery that renews body and mind.It suits anyone, whatever their experience, and can be practised at home.
It supports people living with anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms.
It cultivates creativity and problem solving.
It helps you unhook and raise your inner awareness.It opens the door to introspection and personal growth.It supports physical, mental and emotional health at the same time.
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Yoga Nidra can be practised at any suitable time in a quiet room, ideally without interruptions.
Find a quiet, comfortable place and lie down on your back. Breathe in and out deeply to arrive.Set a short, positive intention for the practice, for example: I am calm and steady.Scan the body and release tension. Feel deliberately how you are doing.If you like, follow an audio recording or a teacher through relaxation and visualisation.Keep a soft attention on your breath. Let it be your anchor in the present moment.Picture pleasant scenes or experiences. Enter them without judging.Stay aware of sounds, sensations and emotions. Watch them without judgement.Repeat your positive intention with conviction.
Come back into the present gradually, moving fingers and toes gently.
Open your eyes slowly and enjoy the relaxed state.
Regular practice deepens the experience of Yoga Nidra and brings lasting relaxation to body and mind.
Different cultures hold relaxation and meditation practices that resemble Yoga Nidra and build inner stillness and mindfulness:
- Buddhist meditation: Vipassana and Metta practices.
- Taoist meditation: Qigong and breath focused exercises.
- Mindfulness meditation: present moment awareness without judgement.
- Autogenic training: deep relaxation through self suggestion.
- Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR): techniques for reducing tension.
- Guided imagery: visualisation for relaxation and healing.
- Hawaiian Ho'oponopono: a practice of forgiveness and healing.
- Native American practices: nature based meditations and chants.
The popularity of Yoga Nidra in the modern world comes from its ability to meet the challenges of our time while offering deep relaxation and self enquiry drawn from ancient wisdom and timeless practice.
Mamta writes about yoga, Ayurveda and meditation. She owes her deep connection to yoga to its Indian roots.
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