What Is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is often described as yogic sleep, when in fact it is the method of resting in the deeper brain waves between waking and deep sleep.. In Yoga Nidra the body is relaxed and resting, while the mind and awareness remain awake. The breath becomes slower, the nervous system settles, and the attention naturally turns inward.
Yoga Nidra can begin as a practice of rest and relaxation, yet it is also much more than this.
There are classically six stages that create the guidance of Yoga Nidra, although not all have to be followed. It is a complete path that is rooted in a scientific approach, guide us beyond the ordinary stages of waking, dreaming, and sleeping, and into deeper states of consciousness. In this sense, Yoga Nidra opens the doorway toward Turiya, a state of pure spiritual awareness that is always present beneath mental activity.
This practice is not about effort. It is not about trying to achieve something. Yoga Nidra invites us to rest in a very simple way. When the body is allowed to rest without interference, the mind also begins to soften. In this state, the subconscious mind becomes more accessible, and healing can take place naturally.
Yoga Nidra does not require belief. It works through direct experience. What is revealed through the practice is not something new, but a remembering of our innate stillness, clarity, and presence that is our natural state.
Yoga Nidra as a Practice of Awareness
A true practice of Yoga Nidra develops the capacity for living life in Awareness. Awareness means being present in this moment, rather than living through the habits of past and future.
In Yoga Nidra, awareness is guided gently through the body, the breath, and the inner field of sensation. There is no need to change anything. We are not analysing the mind or correcting ourselves. We simply notice.
This noticing allows the subconscious mind to slowly unwind. Tensions that have been held for a long time can soften when they are met with presence rather than control. Over time, this affects how we live our daily life. We may notice that we react less. We listen more. There is more space between thoughts.
Yoga Nidra is not an escape from life. It is a way of meeting life from stillness. Awareness becomes something we live, not something we try to practice.
The Healing Benefits of Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra offers deep healing for both body and mind because it works through rest. When the nervous system is allowed to rest fully, the body can begin to repair and rebalance itself.
Many people experience improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and a greater sense of emotional stability through regular Yoga Nidra practice. The body learns how to rest again. The mind learns how to settle without force.
In therapeutic settings, Yoga Nidra is often used to support healing from trauma, stress, and burnout. The practice creates a feeling of safety within the body. From this place, healing happens naturally, without pushing or effort.
Yoga Nidra reminds us that healing does not come from doing more. It comes when we allow ourselves to stop, to rest, and to be present with what is.
Learning Yoga Nidra in a Retreat or Workshop Setting
Yoga Nidra can be practiced at home, yet learning it within a retreat or workshop setting allows a different depth to unfold. When we step away from daily demands, the nervous system has time to settle more fully.
Nature plays an important role. Quiet surroundings, simple rhythms, and time for rest all support the practice. When Yoga Nidra is combined with meditation, gentle yoga, sound, and nourishing food, the body feels safe enough to truly let go.
At Satya Loka, Yoga Nidra is offered through both an in person retreat and an online workshop. The Yoga Nidra Retreat and Workshop offers a deep immersion into the practice, including guided sessions, study of its structure and science, and for those who wish, the opportunity to learn how to guide Yoga Nidra for others.
The retreat and workshop are guided by Yorgos Aryavrat, whose way of teaching is calm, grounded, and deeply experiential. His stability of character and 35 years of Yoga Nidra practice gives a depth of experience that is rare to find.
Here, we invite you to experience Yorgos’ yoga nidra session.
Who Is Yoga Nidra For?
Yoga Nidra is suitable for everyone. It can be practiced by beginners and by experienced practitioners. It is helpful for those seeking rest and healing, and also for yoga teachers and therapists who wish to integrate Yoga Nidra into their work.
It is especially supportive for people who find seated meditation difficult, because the body is resting, awareness can arise more naturally. The practice meets people where they are at.
For those who feel called to share Yoga Nidra, learning within a clear and supportive structure provides confidence and understanding to deliver the practice for others.
For those who simply need rest, Yoga Nidra offers a gentle and accessible way to reconnect with themselves.
