As a workaholic in recovery, it is still taking me a huge effort to think and act around rest. Even if I live with a chronic condition whose one of the main symptoms is fatigue, it is always challenging for me to know when to stop and what to do so I can rest.
A few years ago, I discovered yoga nidra in the context of my yoga therapy studies. A practice where the only thing asked is to be as comfortable as possible. No injonctions to keeping still, to not have thoughts, just lying down or sitting in the most comfortable position. This practice can be done anywhere that feels right: in your bedroom, on your sofa in your living room, in your car, on your seat during a flight, on the beach, etc. Finally a permissive practice for rest.
The person guiding you through yoga nidra (a nidra facilitator) is just here to give you a tread to follow: all you have to do if listen to their voice. Whatever happens during the practice is totally yours and based on what your body and mind need at the moment. We call it an adaptative practice. Some fall asleep, some drift off and dream, some feel their body very relaxed, some get some insights on situations or decisions that need to be made, some managed to not feel pain anymore, the outcome of the practices are as diverse and unique as we the people who practice it.
What we know is that during the practice the heart rate slows down and as well as the respiratory rate, the blood sugar levels go down, and your body enters a state of deep rest and recovery to only name a few.
In the context of yoga therapy, yoga nidra has been one of my most favorite tool. Wether I use it for people with insomnia (recording special practice to listen before bed) or as a break during the day, with pregnant women dealing with a lot of fatigue, with people going to radiation who need to be prepared to lie still (in the context of cancer treatment), people with chronic pain, people with stress or anxiety, people in recovery from an injury, people who need to connect to their creativity, etc.
This unique practice always brings a sense of rest, peace and even clarity.
So if this feels like something you would like to try don't hesitate to contact me, as I have so much more to talk about the practice.
And to know a little more, you can find some info in this article.
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