Durga Yoga Nidra

This is a Yoga Nidra for strength, protection and self-love! Borrowing Durga's energy allows you to sink more deeply into these qualities for yourself. This practice is also wonderful for realizing what tools you need for self-care and empowerment!

Transcript

Hello,

This is Jen with Laughing Lotus Wellness.

We're here today doing a Durga Yoga Nidra.

The first thing I want to do is open with talking about just Durga for a moment and kind of getting our heads around this goddess and her incredible energy.

So she's the goddess of strength and protection.

One of the most beautiful things about her is her fiercestess,

Her ferocity,

But the ability she has to love as much as she is ferocious.

And oftentimes her ferocity is about protecting the underdog,

Things like that.

Think of a mom with her children.

So there's this incredible love she has too.

She's this beautiful,

Radiant being.

She's got long,

Flowing,

Dark hair.

She wears a beautiful gold crown and has ten arms all holding a different weapon or tool.

And they're all like her arsenal of beauty and joy and love.

And so I really love that piece of her.

She rides in on a lion or a tiger,

Depending on the depiction.

And so she's ferocious,

But she's also this distinctly beautiful quality.

And what I love about her is that she feels gritty to me.

She feels more balanced.

She feels accessible to us.

And I think in this day and age right now,

We need that more than ever.

So I have created a practice where I'm doing this with some really brilliant women.

And this yoga nidra in particular is one that they really enjoyed and I love so much.

And because Durga is one of my favorite goddesses to study and to spend time in her energy is a component of my wellness practice.

I wanted to bring that to you.

So you might invoke Durga's energy for some physical or emotional strength to empower yourself.

To walk into a meeting or a conflict or a conversation you have to have with strength standing up for yourself.

Starting and completing projects.

Willpower to create and sustain really beautiful wellness and healing practices and habits.

Help in challenging situations.

Rescuing someone in trouble.

Protecting others.

Ending relationships when they're no longer serving you.

Political power.

Fighting for justice.

And facing up to the negative aspects of yourself.

Those subtle parts of ourselves that are a little bit hard to look at.

So her symbols are and they vary as well a little bit.

But I want to talk just a minute about the different tools she has.

So she has a trident for courage and purity.

A conch shell for happiness.

A bow and arrow for energy and destroying difficulties.

A sword for discernment,

Knowledge and intellect.

A chakra for righteousness.

Her thunderbolt is for firmness of spirit.

A lotus for spiritual awakening.

A spear for destroying negative energy and bringing auspiciousness and good luck.

A snake for upward movement of intellect and learning.

A flame for wisdom,

Knowledge to balance our worldly attainments.

And a club for loyalty.

So as we do this practice,

I just wanted to make sure that you're aware of her energy and what she brings to us.

And I like to think about that as imbuing her energy into us.

So whenever we're engaging in a practice like this,

That's really what we're doing is calling in that energy.

So with that in mind,

We're going to start our time together in practice.

And so I encourage you to get comfortable either seated or lying down.

Typically,

Yoga nidra is done lying down and you might like a blanket to cover yourself in case you get cool.

You can place something underneath your knees.

I like a pillow underneath my head for yoga nidra.

Otherwise,

You're welcome to stay seated.

Just make sure you're really comfortable in that seated place.

So closing your eyes here if that's comfortable for you and just plugging into how you are breathing in this moment.

Sinking and settling and relaxation here and just becoming aware of the quality of the breath.

Becoming aware of the body of the day.

Sinking and settling here.

Just noticing how you're feeling physically,

Emotionally,

Mentally.

And giving a nod right here to what's happened in your day before coming to this practice.

Any thoughts,

Feelings and plans.

And now imagine boxing those up and setting that box outside your space until you are done with practice.

And it will be waiting there for you.

Relaxing and releasing here.

Natural state of breath,

Equal inhales and exhales.

Making any adjustments to your body,

Your props,

Clothing so that you can be in a state of relaxation for nidra.

Bringing that awareness to the breath.

In your mind's eye,

Counting those breaths and just ensuring that your breaths are equal on the inhale and equal on the exhale.

And in that place,

With your own breath,

Just take three equal part breaths for a moment here.

And now beginning to extend that exhale by just one count longer for five breaths more.

Now releasing that breath effort and just returning to that normal equal part inhale and exhale.

No effort here.

As you sink and settle here in this relaxed state,

You will fall even deeper into relaxation as I count down from five to one.

Five,

Relaxing and releasing.

Four,

Letting go of any thoughts,

Feelings or sensations.

Three,

Falling deeper into relaxation.

Two,

Allowing yourself to be in this peaceful place.

One,

Completely relaxed and ready for yoga nidra.

For our practice today,

You're welcome to either create your own sankopa or intention for practice or borrow mine.

We'll repeat that three times together or you can do that three times in your own mind.

I am grateful to be led with the radiant energy,

Strength and protection as I emulate these qualities in my own actions and manifestations.

I am grateful to be led with the radiant energy of strength and protection as I emulate these qualities in my own actions and manifestations.

I am grateful to be led with the radiant energy,

Strength and protection as I emulate these qualities in my own actions and manifestations.

And now placing your loving light of awareness on the right side to begin.

Imagine golden healing light in the right thumb.

Second finger,

Third finger,

Fourth finger and fifth finger.

Right palm,

Wrist,

Elbow,

Shoulder,

Armpit,

Waist,

Thigh,

Knee,

Calf,

Ankle,

Heel,

Soul.

Right big toe,

Second toe,

Third toe,

Fourth toe and fifth toe.

Again,

Placing that awareness of loving,

Healing gold light on the right side again from up to down.

Bringing that light to the right thumb,

Second finger,

Third finger,

Fourth finger and fifth finger.

Right palm,

Wrist,

Elbow,

Shoulder,

Armpit,

Waist,

Thigh,

Knee,

Calf,

Ankle,

Heel,

Soul.

Right big toe,

Second toe,

Third toe,

Fourth toe and fifth toe.

Right soul,

Heel,

Ankle,

Calf,

Knee,

Thigh,

Waist,

Armpit,

Shoulder,

Elbow,

Wrist,

Palm,

Right thumb,

Second finger,

Third finger,

Fourth finger and fifth finger.

Healing golden loving light on the whole right side of the body.

The whole right side of the body.

The whole right side.

Now placing that loving golden light of awareness on the left side.

Beginning in the left thumb,

Second finger,

Third finger,

Fourth finger and fifth finger.

Left palm,

Wrist,

Elbow,

Shoulder,

Armpit,

Waist,

Thigh,

Knee,

Calf,

Ankle,

Heel,

Soul.

Left big toe,

Second toe,

Third toe,

Fourth toe and fifth toe.

A loving light of awareness again on that left side from up to down.

Placing that light in the left thumb again,

Second finger,

Third finger,

Fourth finger and fifth finger.

Left palm,

Wrist,

Elbow,

Shoulder,

Armpit,

Waist,

Thigh,

Knee,

Calf,

Ankle,

Heel,

Soul.

Left big toe,

Second toe,

Third toe,

Fourth toe and fifth toe.

Left soul,

Heel,

Ankle,

Calf,

Knee,

Thigh,

Waist,

Armpit,

Shoulder,

Elbow,

Wrist,

Palm.

Left thumb,

Second finger,

Third finger,

Fourth finger and fifth finger.

Healing light of awareness on that whole left side of the body.

The whole left side of the body.

The whole left side.

And now placing that light of awareness to the top of your head,

To the top of your head.

Golden light filling the crown of your head,

To the crown of your head.

The crown,

The crown,

The forehead,

Right eyebrow,

Left eyebrow.

The space between the brows.

Right eye,

Left eye.

Right nostril,

Left nostril.

Right cheek and left cheek.

Right ear and left ear.

Upper lip,

Lower lip.

The space between the lips.

Chin,

Throat.

Right side of the chest,

Left side of the chest.

The whole chest.

Navel,

Upper abdomen and lower abdomen.

Left side of the pelvis and right side of the pelvis.

Right side of the thigh and left side of the thigh.

Right knee and left knee.

Right toes and left toes.

Warm golden radiant light in the whole front of the body.

The whole front of the body.

The whole front of the body.

And now that warm golden radiant light sensing that on the back side of the body.

Feel your mind in the back side of your body.

Notice where the back of your head is touching.

Notice the right shoulder blade and the left shoulder blade.

The whole spine.

Right hip and left hip.

Right glute and left glute.

Back of the right thigh and back of the left thigh.

Right calf muscle and left calf muscle.

Right heel and left heel.

Sensing that radiant light in the whole back of the body.

The whole back of the body.

The whole back of the body.

Sensing now that radiant light at the top of the crown and now the feet.

Holding these two senses together,

Lit up now.

The crown.

The crown.

The feet.

The feet.

And now you breathe,

Moving that awareness from the crown to the feet.

Allowing the breath on an inhale to run from the crown to the feet and feel that energy moving.

Now exhaling from the feet up to the crown,

Moving that energy.

Breathing like this for a few moments more.

Inhaling from the crown down to the feet.

Exhaling from the feet up to the crown.

And now trying to see the whole body as if you are lit in that warm,

Healing,

Golden,

Radiant light.

As if the energetic light is in you and you can see your own reflection.

See your own body.

Your own light.

See your whole body lit from the inside out,

Saying to yourself,

This is the light of my body.

The warm,

Golden,

Healing light of my body.

The light of my body.

The warm,

Golden,

Healing light of my body.

The light of my body.

Now imagine that you call the Durga inviting her in and you say,

Durga,

I need your strength and protection.

Can you please show yourself?

You see Durga off in the distance,

Riding her lion in all her glory.

You can feel her strength vibrating before you can even fully make her out in detail.

Finally,

Durga is standing in front of you.

Standing tall and all of her strength,

Her strength and righteousness apparent as is her love for you.

She bows down to the parts of her in you.

She lovingly places her hands on your feet.

And with each inhale you take you breathe in her strength,

Her fight,

Her sense of justice.

You can see all of her warrior tools she is holding her club,

Her sword,

Her lotus,

Her bow and arrow,

Her fire.

And in this place,

She asks you,

What do you need to love yourself more?

To make time for yourself?

You must know your worth.

So now I'm here to give you the tools to love yourself the most.

Pausing here a moment,

Take note of the vibration of strength that is coursing through your body after you invited Durga in.

As you breathe here,

Allow yourself and your mind to wander.

To listen for any wisdom for the tools and weapons you need to show up to fully love yourself.

Full of strength,

Conviction,

Love and protection.

What tools do you need as a warrior to show up for yourself?

Allowing now Durga to fill your mind with the knowledge and information of what will serve you the most.

Just breathing here as your mind wanders and is filled with her wisdom.

Allowing you to love yourself the most.

.

.

.

And recognizing the tools and weapons that you will now use for a place of strength and love in your life.

Having invited Durga in to join with you and share her ultimate wisdom and strength for a moment considering which areas you need those weapons and tools most for.

And now imagine standing face to face with Durga.

She lovingly places your hands on your hips in a show of strength.

She too places her hands on her hips as you share this moment of solidarity,

Strength and feel that deep well of protection come up in you.

You see in this moment how strength is both muscular and also spiritual and also having a voice.

It is the strength of the mind.

It is speaking up when you see wrong doing.

And again looking for any wisdom or insight that Durga may share for any tools you may need to fight any battles necessary whether yourself or someone else.

And Durga comes to support us when we call her in and ask her for her support.

And as you stand here with your hands on hips across from this powerful goddess you know that she is here to support you and loving yourself more fully showing up in any way that's necessary from a place of strength and love.

And your mind's eye bringing your hands to heart center.

And in this mirror Durga's posture as well sending her gratitude for the insight and wisdom for her imbuing and blessing you with strength,

Power and love,

Protection,

Power and the wisdom for how you will best show up with her qualities in the world.

And again we revisit that same kalpa from the beginning of our practice either using yours or borrowing mine.

I am grateful to be lit with the radiant energy strength and protection as I emulate these qualities in my own actions and manifestations.

I am grateful to be lit with the radiant energy of strength and protection as I emulate these qualities in my own actions and manifestations.

I am grateful to be lit with the radiant energy of strength and protection as I emulate these qualities in my own actions and manifestations.

Breathing here beginning to know that your body is still vibrating with strength as you come back from your Durga journey.

Saying to yourself,

I am lit from inside out,

Breathing strength inside and out.

I am lit from inside out,

Breathing strength inside and out.

Imagining how you will take this strength and protective energy out into your life,

Out into the world.

Whether you will use this strength for physical or emotional needs,

Empowerment,

Standing up for yourself,

Starting or completing a project,

Creating positive habits,

Help in managing challenging situations,

Rescuing someone in trouble,

Protecting other people,

Any relationships that no longer serve us,

Fighting for justice,

And facing the shadow aspects of who you are.

Breathing here slowly,

Inhaling and exhaling.

Beginning to imagine the space that you're in.

The floor walls,

Ceiling,

Floor,

Doorways and windows,

Seeing the specific space in your mind's eye,

Feeling the weight of the muscles and bones in the body,

Beginning to feel the floor beneath you or the chair beneath you.

The breath as it expands your belly and your rib cage and your back.

Slowly and gently rolling wrists and ankles or rubbing your hands across your blanket or carpeting.

Coming back into your body after this beautiful Durga journey.

Coming back into space into your body,

Into your awareness.

Grateful for our practice together.

May you take this Durga energy with you everywhere you go.

The light and teacher in me honors the light and teacher and Durga energy in each and every single one of you.

Namaste.

Reviews

Another spectacular Durga meditation! Thank you for introducing me to this powerful Hindu Goddess. Much gratitude and appreciation 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Beautiful practice and exactly what I needed right now. Thank you! 🙏🏻🌈