Yoga Nidrā

In this post I shall introduce you to a very powerful and effective, yet simple technique that will empower you to overcome stress, foster better relationships, accelerate learning and improve your health. It is not a new age fad. It has been used for many thousands of years and refined over the course of time. This technique or process is known as Yoga Nidrā. Yoga means yoking, in other words utilizing an asset. That asset could be your mind, body, thought or emotion. When you yoke something, you are in charge. Yoking you mind does not mean restraining yourself. It means harnessing your innate powers.This technique is a part of the science of Yoga and it has Tāntrik origins. Tantra is a set of practices to achieve Yoga. It derives from the word Tantu which means a thread or yarn. So literally, a practitioner of Tantra weaves the fabric of karma on the matrix of the mind and body. It has been practiced widely in India where it originated and later spread to Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Burma and Sri Lanka. It works on the five elements that make up the entire universe. In brief, it is a method of tapping cosmic energy for transformation.Now, a word about Yoga. The popular image of Yoga in the minds of people is a set of weird postures and exercises. Actually, Yoga is a complete guide to intelligent living. It consists of eight limbs. They are called Yama, Niyama, Āsana, Prānāyāma, Pratyāhāra, Dhrāranā, Dhyāna and Samādhi.
Yama and Niyamas are affirmations. Like, I shall not indulge in violence. I shall live and abide by the truth. I shall not covet anything that I have not earned and so on. Āsana is body awareness. Prānāyāma breath awareness, associated with emotional awareness. These four practices are external in nature. The last three are associated with the process of meditation and are essentially deep and internal in nature. The bridge between the internal and the external is provided by the practice of Pratyāhāra.Our Mind is constantly interfacing with the external world of sensations and the internal world of emotions, thoughts and prejudices. Pratyāhāra means dissociating the Mind from the sway of sensory inputs. This way you are put in command of your Mind. The Mind no more reacts instinctively with likes and dislikes, but learns to view events more dispassionately.Yoga Nidrā is a very effective tool to achieve Pratyāhāra. Thus we can see that Pratyāhāra is the quantum leap that helps you to transcend from the sensory to the inner dimension. Yoga Nidrā is really a guided tour of your sensory explorations.Every action has a reaction. Every effect has a cause. That means every action will bear a fruit. We tend to expect a fruit based on our effort, without realizing that there are other variables in this equation that affect the outcome. The Yogic concept of time is based on experience. The experience which follows an action, the fructification of effort defines time not just quantitatively but also qualitatively. This is the basis of the concept of Karma. In a word, Karma is action and its fruit.The intention behind every action is very important as it gives a subtle but definite direction to the fruit of action. Therefore the use of a knife at the hands of surgeon has a different Karmic outcome as compared to a murderer using the same knife.All unresolved Karma is carried forward in time. When the action will bear fruit is not within our control as we have free will only over our endeavor.Unresolved Karma leaves behind its impression on our mind, body and psyche in the form of impressions. These impressions drive all our psycho-mental activity. Our likes, dislikes, cravings, phobias and fears are rooted in our karmic residue or Samskara. We are actually slaves of the Karmic impressions. As humans we have some free will to break free from this wheel of cause and effect. All practices of Yoga and Tantra are meant to do just that.Karmic residue is not stored in the form of memories of incidents or stories. It is held in a subtle way in the form of symbols. These symbols are often understood in psychology as archetypes. Our past experiences are stored as symbolic characters, like hero, lover, sage, etc. But they can also be in geometric forms. All written and spoken words are actually suggestions to our mind which sub-consciously deciphers the meaning on the basis of the innate symbols that represent our individual or collective Karma. The importance of these symbols is that we can use them to break or dissolve unresolved Karma. The cross, a circle, dot and some other geometrical shapes can be used to resonate with our deep Samskaras and help them to be resolved.Yoga Nidrā is a technique that is based on scanning your entire body in a particular sequence. It is like a cursive-writing practice children do at school. By repeating the strokes of the pen over and over again, children soon master the technique. The principles of Yoga Nidrā follow the same principle. By scanning all the parts of the body sequentially, we learn to notice the sensations as opposed to reactions. A person who can observe the sensations will not react – he or she will act in a conscious and aware manner.What are the benefits we can expect?A relaxed mind, with a focus on matters at hand provides you with tremendous insight. This will automatically reflect in better relationships, ability to cope with stress and also disease. Better visualization will help you see your objectives with clarity.Remember, every holistic healing modality like Yoga, Āyurveda, Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy etc uses the techniques and method I talked about. Use them and apply them moment to moment. You are bound to succeed. They help you overcome reaction and support action. Reaction is uncontrolled. Action is completely within your control.

Anjali RajGuru, Yoga Siromani.