Hoppy Easter!
If you have ever wished that your yoga class could be a solid Savasana session, then do I have an Easter treat for you.
I have just recorded a Yoga Nidra session and have posted it to the site. It is just a smidge over a half hour and is a sweet taste of the practice. Please, please give it a try and let me know what you think.
A Little About Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra, often referred to as yogic sleep, is deeply relaxing and restorative. Anyone can do it. The initial stages alone (breath awareness and rotation of consciousness) magically calm your nervous system. The practice also focuses on cultivating multiple levels of well-being by integrating what in yoga is called the koshas or layers of the self. Investigate more on the koshas if this is of interest to you.
I was first introduced to Yoga Nidra when I went to India in 2007. I practiced daily while I was there and then regularly once I returned home. I was convinced I would never abandon this beloved practise for as long as I lived and then I promptly fell off the wagon. I jumped back on two years later after I had my daughter and was trying to juggle free-lance work and motherhood. I was more sleep deprived at the time than I ever knew was even possible. Yoga Nidra saved my sanity when I literally didn’t feel I had a single moment to spare. I currently practise (in addition to regular meditation) whenever I feel depleted or particularly anxious. It is a gift every single time.
A Little About Sankalpa A Sankalpa (or a resolve) is a short, positive statement in simple language that marks the beginning of Yoga Nidra after you have reached a level of relaxation. Think of it as a way to plant a seed in your mind that is sure to flourish.
There is often an emphasis on allowing your sankalpa to arise ‘naturally’. I believe it does arise naturally. Eventually. In the meantime, don’t agonize over it. At the beginning I knew when I was using a fake-o sankalpa and you will too. It will feel forced. Or you won’t even remember it from one session to the next.
Here are examples of possible sankalpas so you get the idea…
I empower others.
I am adaptable and resilient.
I let go of what no longer serves me.
I learn from each moment.
I am loving and loved.
I listen to my body.
I speak kindly to myself and others.
I am healthier everyday.
I am peace.
I choose happiness.
I communicate with clarity and compassion.
Enjoy the recording. I hope this practise helps you to feel calm and steady. Pass it along to yogis and non-yogi types. Lay down, throw on some headphones to listen and just relax. I have no doubt this would be Easter Bunny approved.
Much love, Katherine
