Welcome,
Friends,
To this Yoga Nidra,
Where I hope you'll join me on a winter sleigh ride.
Go ahead and settle into a comfortable position,
Lying down if possible.
Allow your arms and your legs to rest easily,
Palms open,
Taking up space wherever you are.
If it feels okay,
Go ahead and gently let your eyes close.
Take a slow,
Deep breath in and a long,
Smooth breath out.
Feel the support beneath your body.
There's nowhere to go,
Nothing to do.
Simply rest.
Now,
In your mind's eye,
I invite you to join me for a sleigh ride on a cold winter night.
There is snow covering the ground,
Soft and luminous.
Above you,
A full moon lights the sky.
The trees cast long shadows across the snow,
So bright it almost feels like daylight.
A cool wind moves through the air,
But you're warmly dressed.
The sleigh driver has placed thick blankets around you,
Keeping your body safe and cozy.
Only your face feels the gentle coolness of the night.
As you exhale,
You notice your breath appearing in the bright winter air,
A soft cloud rising and dissolving.
Allow yourself to ride in stillness,
The sound of the sleigh gliding over snow,
Steady and soothing.
Up ahead,
You see a log cabin.
Smoke is curling slowly from the chimney,
And a warm golden glow spills from the windows,
Reflecting across the snow.
The sleigh comes to a gentle stop at the door.
You step down,
Feeling steady and calm,
And enter the cabin.
Inside,
A fireplace welcomes you,
Warm and glowing and inviting.
Pillows and blankets are waiting for you.
Take a moment to arrange them,
Creating a soft nest in front of the fire.
When you're completely comfortable,
Allow your body to rest.
Now,
Bring your awareness to the warmth of the fire.
Feel that warmth reaching your toes,
Softening them,
Relaxing them.
The warmth moves through your feet and into your ankles.
It continues to rise through your calves and your shins,
Flowing gently into your knees,
Swirling around the kneecaps,
Easing and releasing.
The warmth travels up fronts and backs of your legs,
Surrounding your thighs,
Your hips,
Your lower back.
Feel it move into your belly,
Softening the abdomen,
And rising into your ribs and your heart center,
A gentle glow spreading there.
The warmth expands through your chest,
Across your shoulders,
Melting any heaviness.
It slowly flows down both arms,
Through the elbows,
The wrists,
And into the hands and fingers.
Perhaps you notice a subtle tingling or a sense of ease.
The warmth moves into your neck,
Your jaw,
Your mouth.
Any tension you've been holding melts away.
It spreads across your cheeks,
Your eyes,
Letting them feel heavy and relaxed.
And finally,
Across your forehead and scalp.
Your entire body is now warm,
Supported,
And deeply relaxed,
Resting safely in front of the fire.
Let yourself remain here,
Breathing softly,
Resting fully.
Winter is a time of endings,
Of quiet completion.
Perhaps there's something in your life that's ready to pass,
Something you're ready to release.
Endings don't need to feel sad or final.
They're doorways opening to new beginnings,
New experiences,
And new ways of being.
Without effort,
Simply notice what arises.
There's nothing to force and nothing to judge.
Now rest in stillness,
Warm and held,
As you allow space for letting go and gentle renewal.
Remain here for a few moments,
Breathing,
Resting,
Being.
Friends,
It's time to leave the warmth of the fire and the log cabin and return back to the space around you.
Start by bringing some small movements to your fingers and your toes.
Maybe wiggling your eyebrows or bringing a smile to your lips.
And then bringing some bigger movements to the body,
Stretching the arms and the legs like you're waking up in the morning.
And then as you're ready,
Slowly opening your eyes and returning to the space around you.
Take a deep breath in and exhale,
Let it go.
May you enjoy this time of rest and renewal.
Namaste.
