The healing power of conscious rest
Yoga Nidra, often called yogic sleep or Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR), is a deeply restorative meditation practice that brings your body into a state of deep rest, while your mind stays gently aware.
You lie down in a comfortable position, eyes closed, wrapped in softness.
A voice guides you through a sequence of breath awareness, body scanning, and visualisations.
There is nothing to do, nothing to achieve, only to be.
Your brain moves into slower brainwave states, similar to those in deep sleep, allowing the nervous system to reset and the body to begin its natural healing processes.
Yoga Nidra is used to support:
- Overwhelm, stress and burnout recovery
- Sleep disorders and insomnia
- Anxiety and emotional tension
- Fatigue and chronic exhaustion
- Disconnection from the body or overthinking
- Integration after intense emotional or physical experiences
It is gentle. Non-invasive. And you don’t have to move a muscle.
What it brought me
For me personally, Yoga Nidra came at a time when everything felt too much.
I had trouble sleeping. I was navigating burnout symptoms. I felt overstimulated and exhausted, even the idea of doing something to help myself felt like too much.
But Yoga Nidra met me exactly where I was.
All I had to do was lie down and listen. And somehow, slowly, my system started to settle. My sleep became deeper. My nervous system less reactive. I found a softness in myself that I hadn’t felt in a long time.
It didn’t fix everything. But it gave me access to a quiet, safe space inside, a place to rest when the world felt too loud.
Why it works
Modern neuroscience supports what yogis have known for centuries: deep rest is essential for healing.
Yoga Nidra activates the parasympathetic nervous system, your rest-and-digest mode, and helps reduce cortisol levels, improve sleep quality, and increase resilience.
It’s not about emptying your mind.
It’s about being gently guided into presence.
Even if your mind races. Even if you feel nothing. Even if you fall asleep. The practice still works.
For those who feel too tired to meditate
If you’ve ever felt too tired, too anxious, too numb, or too overwhelmed to meditate, Yoga Nidra might be your medicine.
You don’t need to “try” or concentrate.
You don’t need to sit upright or focus your breath.
You simply lie down and let yourself be held by the practice.
It’s meditation for the nervous system. And an act of radical self-care.
Pictures: Serena Milada
