Yoga Nidra Yoga

Yoga Nidra, which literally means "sleep of the yogis", is used to prepare both mentally and physically prior to seeking deeper levels of consciousnessand awarenessthrough meditation. However Yoga Nidra is also regularly practiced on its own as a daily relaxation technique. Adherents claim that half an hour of Yoga Nidra can replace up to three hours of normal sleep, although its regular use as a sleep substitute is not recommended as the body and mind still requires sufficient rest through standard sleep.

The true sleep of a Yogi is a state of consciousness in which the Yogi is believed to be connected with the Divineenergy pervading the whole Cosmos. This energy is thought to be beyond space and time, allowing the Yogi to possibly see the past, the present and the future. A Yogi may also become aware of his past lives. Through Yoga Nidra the Yogi can work through Karmas, as this clarity penetrates levels of the subconscious. It is used to help purify the subconscious through use of certain vows known as Shankalpas. Experienced Yogis claim to use Yoga Nidra for astral travelsand in its highest level it leads to Samadhi.

Yoga Nidra should not be confused with techniques of autosuggestion, or "autogenous training".

History

Paramyogeshwar Sri Devpurijideveloped Yoga Nidra and passed it on to Sri Deep Narayan Mahaprabhujiand it was taught to his disciples since 1880. On his journeys to the Himalayas, Sri Devpuriji met, among others, Swami Sivanandaof Rishikeshand Swami Muktananda, who is well known in Europe and conveyed the technique of Yoga Nidra to several Yogisand Swamis, such as Swami Satyananda Saraswatiand Swami Janakananda.

Swami Satyananda developed the modern form of Yoga Nidra from the ancient tantricpractice of nyasa meditation, which uses Sanskritmantraswhile meditating on each part of the body. Thus Yoga Nidra gradually spread throughout Indiaand finally to Europeand the United Statesand is taught in the system in Satyananda Yogaand Yoga in Daily Life.

See also

External link

Topicsin Yoga

Yogas:	Agni Yoga- Anahata Yoga- Anusara Yoga- Arhatic Yoga- Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga(Ashtanga Yoga) - Bikram Yoga- Hatha yoga- Integral yoga- Iyengar Yoga- Kriya yoga- Kundalini yoga- Natya Yoga- Sahaj Marg- Sahaja Yoga- Siddha Yoga- Six yogas of Naropa(Tumo) - Surat Shabd Yoga- Viniyoga- Yoga in Daily Life- Yoga Nidra
Texts:	Hatha Yoga Pradipika- Yoga Sutra
Hinduismpaths:	Bhakti yoga- Karma Yoga- Jnana Yoga- Raja Yoga(Ashtanga Yoga)
Raja Yoga limbs:	Yama- Niyama- Asana- Pranayama- Pratyahara- Dharana- Dhyana- Samadhi
Lists:	Yoga schools and their gurus- Hatha yoga postures
Related topics:	Ayurveda- Chakra- Tantra- Vedanta- Yoga as exercise

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga+Nidra Wikipedia article Yoga Nidra.