This is better than a power nap!
Yoga Nidra — my personal go to when I'm in need of rest.
Just 20 minutes of this leave me feeling deeply rested!
As we soldier through winter, it is common to struggle with fatigue. Less exposure to sunlight causes frequent dips in our mood and energy levels. Therefore, this season calls us to conserve our energy and to recharge our batteries frequently.
Today, I will share my personal go-to for when I am in need of rest or feeling unsettled - Yoga Nidra!
Practice of Yoga Nidra is all about slowing your brain waves down, so you reach a state of relaxation bordering between sleep and awakeness. In this state of deep rest, your body begins to heal from fatigue and past traumas. You may even have creative insights.
“I feel like I have stepped out of a spa!” said my friend Mélanie after her first session.
Yoga Nidra is a powerful tool in managing stress, anxiety, depression, and is used by the American army to treat PTSD.
Finding an instructor that resonates with you is key to enjoying this practice.
Here is a playlist to get you started…
(20 mins) Lizzy Hill > Listen here: In true British style, she keeps it short and simple. This is a good place to start if you are new to Yoga Nidra.
(20 mins) Dr Richard Miller > Listen here: Perhaps the most listened to version of Yoga Nidra. Dr Richard Miller used this protocol in his work with soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress.
(40 mins) Gayatri Devi (yours truly) > Listen here: Bi-lingual (Eng & French). Includes instructions on how to work with your breath to get the maximum benefit out of Yoga Nidra.
To get the most out of your Yoga Nidra session:
Find a warm and uncluttered space.
Settle down on your yoga or sports mat. Find a comfortable lying down position — separate your legs, let your arms rest by your side and let your palms face up. Feel free to place a cushion under each thigh so that your lower back is resting flat on the ground.
Cover yourself with a blanket and cover your eyes with an eye pillow or a scarf.
Have no expectations from yourself. It is ok to feel restless or fall asleep in the beginning. The more you practice, more rested you will feel. Advanced practitioners are able to guide themselves into this blissful state, sans instructor!
After the practice, drink a glass of water and wait for about 5 mins before you get on with your day.
You may do this as a stand alone practice or at the end of your run/workout/yoga routine.
Sunlight, temperature, humidity…have an impact on our body and mind in more ways than we might be aware of.
You know what I’m talking about if in winter you have trouble getting out of bed, crave sweets, feel low or foggy headed. This is precisely what modern medicine calls Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - winter blues as we might know it.
Healthy Hedonism is a series of tips to help you battle the winter blues. 1 voice note and a written transcript by email every week for 7 weeks.
Until next week,
Stay rested
Gayatri
Ps: If you have missed the last two editions, catch up on them here: