The Science and Joys of Yoga Nidra (Non- Sleep Deep Rest)

Yoga Nidra.

Yogic Sleep.

Non- Sleep Deep Rest.

However you call it, yoga nidra is a form of guided meditation and has been a constant in my life for a number of years.

It’s held me sweetly during grief, fatigue and a wild nervous system.

The Science: Your brain on Nidra

Think of your brain like it’s got different gears.

When you’re working, planning, or doom-scrolling, it’s in high gear (aka beta mode).

When you start to chill out, it drops into alpha. Go deeper still, and you hit theta (that dreamy, floaty space between awake and asleep).

Finally, delta is your deepest restorative rest. Full repair mode.

In yoga nidra, your brain shifts down through those gears. From the frantic beta thinking mode into the slower, calmer states linked with deep rest and meditation.

The Joys:

• Yoga nidra gives you what you need in that moment. You may fall asleep if you are tired and this is no bad thing.

• Do it any time, anywhere.

• Four times more restorative than sleep.

• Feels like the human equivalent of closing all your open tabs.