When yogis speak about the ‘mind’ they are talking about much more than the brain. The Mind in Yoga is what is sometimes called the 'Body Mind’, references the idea that our memory and trauma is stored within the body, in the form of 'samskaras’ and that our pathway for improving our mental condition is to harmonise the chitta and release any trauma that is stored as varsanas & cause vrittis.
Read moreHow I Changed my life with Meditation
So I haven’t always been a shiny happy meditation teacher - there was a time (more like an era) in my life when I was anxious, depressed, lost and addicted to various substances and a whole lot of bad thinking…
Read moreWhat is Yoga Nidra & Why do I love it So Much?
Yoga Nidra is at once a practice of deep relaxation as well as a potent system for mental & energetic refinement. Of all of the yogic meditation practices, Yoga Nidra is the one where many speak of it as in terms of a love affair. Yoga Nidra has affectionate names such as ‘Sleep of the Gods’, ‘Divine Rest’, ‘Effortless Ease’ or ‘Yoga Nodra’ - each of these names reflect an element of the transcendental qualities in this practice, and the affection that people have for this simple system of self restoration.
I am a deep lover of so many yoga practices, I practice a lot of hatha yoga/asana, and I do a lot of pranayama/breathwork as well as practicing seated meditation practices of Ajapa Japa (mantra) & Antar Mouna (mindfulness). I hate to pick favourites, but if I had to give all of my yoga toys back, and keep just one, I think that one would be Yoga Nidra. (I’m not giving them back by the way, I do love them all too much, and the thought of a life without all of those practices, sounds very angsty and bleak.)
What I teach people with Yogic Meditation is a system of yoga, a system of developing the personality & evolving our capacity of awareness - this is a system where all of those practices work together in symphony, a set of tools to manage your body, mind & spirit, that can be adapted for every lifestyle in every season.
All of the practices of yoga are wonderful, however Yoga Nidra has a special quality that makes every other practice work better - it is like the ‘Special Sauce’ that makes everything else taste good. As I describe in the video belong, Yoga Nidra is like a ‘glue’ that binds everything together.
In this video, I explain what Yoga Nidra is, as well reflecting on my own journey with the practice & reflecting as some of the reasons that I love the practice so much.
If you haven’t tried Yoga Nidra, you really should, there are lots of ways to practice, I teach regularly at Bamboo Yoga, running weekly classes & regular courses - I’ve also got some practices on Insight Timer, you can connect with me & listen to the practice here.
For those interest in learning to teach yoga nidra, you should check out our Meditation TTC - it is a fundamental part of this course.
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Yoga is Not the Easy Road
Comfortable effort sustained over an extended period of time, that’s what gets results, that’s the path of yoga.
Read moreYoga Nidra, Sankalpa & the Sub Conscious Mind
Within the Practice of Yoga Nidra we have some potent tools to support us in the journey to create meaningful and lasting change…
Read moreYoga and the Art of Change
Yoga is full of quirky paradox, seemingly opposing ideals, that are somehow supposed to make sense. One such twist of ideals is the idea to ‘Be here Now’ juxtaposed against the aspirations of ‘Self Evolution’ and ‘Personal Growth’.
It seems like conflicting advice, non? To be content with what is, yet at the same time to aspire for something better..?
Welcome back to the Gentle Revolution podcast! In episode two, we delve deep into the world of meditation and Yoga Nidra, spotlighting their distinctive philosophies and transformative effects.