The Art Of Conscious Napping

This first session prepares us to begin our Yoga Nidra journey. We will learn what Yoga Nidra is and go through some of the important things to be aware of before we begin, including how to make sure we practice safety and some common experiences that might be encountered. We will then experience the state of Yoga Nidra during our first practical session.

This session focuses on the importance of creating a sacred and intentional space for your practice. We will look at some important things to consider when choosing and creating your, space, and understand the benefits of keeping to a consistent practice space and time. We will explore the various ways to make your space special and sacred for you, with suggestions for the creation of permanent and temporary spaces to suit your circumstances. We will then look at the physical position of the body during the practice, and go over some different ways to create maximum comfort as you rest, including using blankets, pillows, or other props. The practical session includes an exploration of space inside and outside of the body.

In this session, we will explore and understand our motivations and intentions for practicing, and see how our intentions can guide the experience and effects of the practice. We will also explore the concept of Sankapla, the sacred vow or heart's prayer, and how our practice can assist the unfolding of our deep spiritual desires. In the practical session, we will focus on making a clear intention for the practice, and a space will be opened for exploring the Sankalpa and listening to the prayers of the heart.

Today, we will explore the physical benefits we receive when we practice Yoga Nidra and understand what happens in the body when we are in a state of deep rest. We will acknowledge the importance of moving out of 'fight or flight' mode into 'rest and repair' mode, and how spending time in this deeply restful state can improve our overall levels of health, reduce stress, and bring deep rejuvenation. The practical session focuses on a longer rotation of consciousness around the body and welcomes the state of deep rest and stillness.

This session explores the energetic effects of Yoga Nidra. We look at and understand the concept of prana, or life force energy, and how our practice helps to encourage a healthy and uninhibited flow of prana. We will also explore the potential for working with difficult emotions, and how the practice can help us to explore, accept and become comfortable with our emotions. We will also be utilizing the creation of a safe inner space to bring us stability and security as we practice. In the practical session, we will explore some commonly challenging emotions: dissatisfaction and agitation, learning to hold them in a place of comfort, acceptance, and stillness.

In session six, we will look at the mental benefits of the practice: how quietening and calming the mind can improve our daily lives and some of the techniques that can guide the mind towards balance and stillness. During the practical session, we will relax our physical, energetic, and mental bodies, allowing the mind to rest in deep stillness, and for mental rejuvenation to occur.

Today's session explores the state of Yoga Nidra as an experience of pure consciousness, the true self, or the mystical state of Turiya. We examine the potential of Yoga Nidra as a meditation practice and look at why this can be such a beneficial method of meditation for many people. The practical session is designed to move us into stillness, and leave time to rest in the state of Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra provides many healing benefits, from the physical restoration that happens in the body, to the potential for emotional balance and mental rejuvenation, to the use of intention to guide us towards any deeper healing we need or desire. Today, we will look at the various ways we can encourage healing during our practice. We will use intention and visualization in the practical session to promote healing where needed and begin to open ourselves up to the world of vision and symbolism as an aid to our practice.

In this session, we'll take a look at how practicing Yoga Nidra can help inspire us creatively and open us up to new ideas and perceptions. We will also continue to explore the use of visualization and the various ways of experiencing insight and receiving inspiration. The more visual practical session uses imagery to help awaken our creativity and gives us plenty of time to listen for and receive inspiration.

This final session summarizes what we have covered during the course, and explores some ways you might like to continue with and evolve your practice in the future. We conclude with a longer practical session that utilizes many of the aspects that have been covered over the course, and aims to integrate all that we have learned.