Experience Yoga Nidra: Guided deep relaxation

"This cd really helps me at times when I know Im a bit irritable or may be unwell and can't get comfortable or just can't get to sleep- I pull this out and soon find comfort and bodily peace."
~ Written on 2008-08-10

"I can't claim to be an expert in the tradition and practice of yoga nidra so I will bow to more advanced and knowledgeable practitioners as to the validity of the execution of this CD.

But properly executed in the traditional sense or not, I must recommend this to anyone who suffers from stress, anxiety, sleeping difficulties etc. I use this CD regularly before I go to bed and have found it to be a marvellous aid to getting a restful, peaceful night's sleep. The more that I use this, the better and more peaceful the effects are.

All my friends who have borrowed this have found it to be just as helpful and it is my first port of call when tense or when worries are affecting my sleep.

Perhaps the style may not suit all, but it has truly given me a tool to help me relax and switch off disruptive inner dialogue.



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~ Written on 2008-06-11

"Yoga nidra means yogic sleep, a state of mind where you are in a deep sleep state and at the same time awake and aware that you are sleeping. With all due respects to Janakananda I don't think he accomplies this on his CD.

According to Swami Rama, and I consider him a far more experienced and advanced yogi, the real yoga nidra requires concentration on the heart center after some 'warm-up' excercises', because the heart center is the center of deep (dreamless) sleep. And it requires quietness around you. Something that's not on this socalled yoga nidra where the voice speaks all the time, and when the concentrationpoint is on a postulated "golden egg" in the middle of the brain.

I have done this excercise many times over the years, and I have to say I've come to find it a rather confusing mixture of genuine yoga nidra related practises like mentally contacting various parts of the body, and working with the seed mantras traditionally associalted with the chakras in yoga and tantra on the one hand. And on the other hand some fantasy journeys, walking in a wood, contacting different animals etc. that has absolutely nothing to do you with yoga, and come from a totally different tradition.

In true yoga nidra you give yourself up and let things happen spontaneously, while Janakananda forces and manipulates you in to feeling this golden egg, something that has nothing to do with genuine meditation, that is always a state beyond the verbal mind.

The best about this CD is Roop Vermas beautiful music.

Might be good relaxation, but it's not genuine yoga nidra."
~ Written on 2007-08-27

""Nidra" in Sanskrit means "sleep" or "slumber," which is the closest experience to the state we experience in hypnosis and deep meditation as described on this CD. In Indian psychology, we have three states of awareness.

The first is waking consciousness called "jagrat," where our awareness is conditioned by time and space. The conscious mind predominates in this state.

The second state is dreaming conscious called "svapna." This is the state where dreams and visions occur. The subconscious mind holds sway here. Hypnotic states with focus and full attention are possible here.

The third state is of dreamless sleep, which is deep sleep without any disturbance from dreams. This deep relaxation is "nidra," where higher consciousness allows tensions and residues from thought impressions ("samskaras")to be released. Technically there is a fourth transcendental state called "turiya" but that is far too complex to explain here.

You do feel rejuvenated after the CD. I highly recommend this CD along with a fascinating novel that also works at a deep psychological and spiritual level called "Nexus" by Deborah Morrison & Arvind Singh. I read this novel along with the "Yoga Nidra Meditation" and have found both to complement each other."
~ Written on 2007-03-14

"Those are the best words that I found to describe the excellent CD through which Swami Janakananda so gracefully shares the ancient Indian technique of Yoga Nidra with us.

I was firstly introduced to Yoga Nidra last year while I was working and traveling extensively around the world. My job was extremely demanding and required a high level of responsibility and dedication. It was a 24 hour a day job and over the years I amounted a great deal of stress that threatened to endanger my professional performance and most importantly my health.

The CD has three parts: a short version of Yoga Nidra, a piece of music by Roop Verma and a long version of Yoga Nidra.
I found out that by listening to both versions (depending on the time available) I was able to easily manage my stress and I learned to relax. In addition, I could "finally" sleep better.

Swami is our guide on this voyage through our body parts and into our inner space. His narration and Roop's music will not let your mind wonder around, but instead you start to develop an open state that allows the body and mind to co-exist in balance, a total harmony.

My life being very active I found out that the more I practiced Yoga Nidra, the more relaxed I became, but in the long run I also discovered that I had more energy. What happened in reality was that I always had a lot of energy, but in most of the cases this energy was dispersed. Now I had found a way of channeling better my energy and take more advantage of my own resources.
For example, before long day meetings, I would start the day with a early morning Yoga Nidra practice and I would be focused and fresh throughout the day, being able to use the necessary amount of energy for each situation and finish the day with a sense of professional accomplishment and feeling very good health wise; a very happy person.
Since I was not able to do physical yoga due to my strenuous schedule and life style, Yoga Nidra was the best choice or replacement. I later found out that I could practice both types of Yoga and actually one complemented the other so it worked very well.

I also introduced this CD to my beach volleyball partner and since we have experienced an increase of coordination and better understanding of our individual techniques in the context of this fast "two a side" sport.

I have since changed job, joined my beautiful wife in matrimony and slowed my life's pace but I have to thank Swami for his great contribution to my general well being and improved health.

I would like to recommend this CD to anyone that seeks a perfect balance between body and mind and a happy life.

Luis de Carvalho
Lagos, Portugal
October 30, 2004"
~ Written on 2004-11-03