what is yoga nidra?

Yoga nidra is a style of guided meditation that is done lying down and uses different techniques to guide you into the state between wakefulness and sleep. Although it is normal to fall asleep during yoga nidra, the overarching goal is to maintain awareness throughout the practice. 

Maintaining awareness through deeper levels of consciousness (particularly the subconscious mind) is where the practice will go from being simply relaxing and restorative, to being a practice of profound self-discovery.

what is “mind theatre: a stage for the subconscious”?

Through the practice of yoga nidra, Mind Theatre takes an approach to understanding the self through the lens of the subconscious mind. It is the intersection between ancient philosophy, science and the avant-garde artistic movement of Surrealism – a movement that embraces the absurd, radically creative, intuitive terrain of the subconscious mind. 

how is it different to normal meditation?

Meditation is a practice with a vast variety of styles, but most meditations are done sitting, standing or moving, keeping the mind and body alert with a point of focus (the breath, the senses, a focal point, a mantra etc). Yoga nidra is done lying down and rather than encouraging one to maintain an alert focus, it guides them to surrender to the ebb and flow through different states of consciousness.

is it an ancient practice?

Although the term “yoga nidra” doesn’t specifically appear in classical yogic texts, its principles (awareness through deeper states of consciousness) are touched on in ancient texts such as the Upanishads, dating around the 8th to 6th centuries BCE. “Yoga nidra” was popularised by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in the mid 20th century, integrating elements of traditional yogic teachings into the structured practice we know today.

how does it “access my subconscious mind”?

The main goal of yoga nidra is accessing the state between being awake and asleep; this state is found within theta brainwave patterns (4 -7 HZ). Research suggests that due to theta’s association with dreaming, vivid mental imagery, receptivity to creative insights and intuition (often buried beneath levels of more active consciousness), they play a main role in accessing the subconscious mind. Although consciousness, including subconsciousness, is incredibly complex and involves a wide range of neural activity, neurotransmitters and other factors beyond just brainwave patterns. 

what is my subconscious?

The subconscious is the part of the mind one is not fully conscious of but is what influences 95% of our actions, thoughts and feelings. It has a powerful effect on our whole experience of reality. It is also a particularly revealing part of the psyche one can learn to observe through deep relaxation, so inner truths aren’t masked over by overthinking or emotional triggers that can send one into a state of overwhelm. 

what are the benefits of accessing my subconscious?

The subconscious is incredibly malleable and responsive to the rewiring of neural networks in the brain (neuroplaticity) because it is without the distractions of the overthinkings of the conscious mind. This makes it a particularly effective place to manifest intentions which is done in yoga nidra through the practice of using a sankalpa. It is also where we best process difficult emotions, find balance between the aversion and craving of experiences within the emotional processor of our brain (our amygdala), discover creative insights, and the intuitive truths often buried beneath layers of hyperactive thoughts and reactive emotions. 

what are the other benefits of yoga nidra?

• Stress relief and resilience: 

By decreasing muscle tension and cortisol levels, yoga nidra is a very effective way of relieving stress, as well as growing our resilience to stress in the future, by increasing our “vagal tone” which is the main nerve of our “parasympathetic nervous system” which sends our body into a state of calm and relaxation. 

• Enhanced cognitive functions: 

Because yoga nidra guides the body into states of deep relaxation akin to sleep, it allows the brain the necessary rest and recovery it needs to improve memory, boost creativity and problem solving skills, accelerate learning and emotional regulation. It also improves focus with its “neurochemical replenishing effects” by restoring levels of dopamine (aka the motivation molecule) which helps us have the drive we need to focus when we need to. 

• Physical recovery: 

In deeply restful states, the body can shift its focus to its repair and maintenance processes, including protein synthesis and cell regeneration. This reduces fatigue and promotes cellular repair which accelerates muscle recovery. 

• Improves sleep quality: 

With regular practice, Yoga Nidra enhances vagal tone, activating the parasympathetic nervous system for better relaxation, sleep onset, and maintenance. Additionally, it employs techniques to shift brain waves from higher to lower frequencies, aiding in sleep induction. Although it cannot replace sleep altogether, it does help to restore and replenish cognitive functions suffering after a lack of sleep. 

is it bad if I fall asleep?

Not at all. If you find yourself falling asleep, it may be what your body needs most. You will still receive the restorative benefits of the practice. However, the more you practice yoga nidra, the more you can grow your ability to maintain awareness, which will grow the practice from being simply restorative to being a practice of deep self-discovery.