Yoga Nidra

Yoga nidra: 

sometimes it's not a setback at all, although it may certainly appear that way during the moment of it''s focus. For me, a back injury was cause to shift my attention from the most demanding asanas towards a more gentle approach, with an emphasis on healing not just my damaged body, but some long ignored emotional wounds as well. In a certain light it seemed that my reliance on motion and the strength of my body prevented me from going deeper into my practice, and even after decades of meditation I wasn't quiet ready to take this dive within.

until now, with my body forcing me to slow down.

and so I turned to yoga nidra, a restful practice also known as psychic or yogic sleep, is a modern technique of an ancient design. It's a means of pratyahara, the fifth limb of ashtanga yoga, vital in turning the senses away from the busyness of the world towards our inner stillness. Yoga nidra guides us through this process, lying in savasana, a systematic meditation that allows us the explore the pancha maya kosha, the five layers of self, and come to a restful understanding of who we really are. 

it's a beautiful, restorative practice.

one that I long ignored in pursuit of a stronger mind and body. 

until now.

this is my moment of deep rest, slowing down and turning further inwards. My assumption was that my sitting meditation practice alone was all I needed for emotional healing. And it's an invaluable tool, essential to my yoga, I absolutely love my time of simply sitting as my mantra plays so effortlessly through my mind. But yes, an even deeper rest now calls to me, asking me to withdraw my senses from the world until I reach a depth that has yet to be fully explored.

and it's there that I lose myself.

completely. 

there's a pureness found here, silent, whole.

it's been waiting all along. 

~

Peace, Eric