An Ancient Science
Yoga nidra is an ancient meditation practice originating in India about 3000 years ago.
iRest®Yoga Nidra is a 10-stage meditation practice, adapted by Dr. Richard Miller, a clinical psychologist. iRest® is more appropriate for people without a yoga background and for anyone with extreme stress or trauma conditions. (Although it is also very beneficial to just about everyone else too!) iRest provides simple, easy to follow guided instructions and is usually done in a comfortable reclining position. It is well suited for people with PTS or stress symptoms because of the continuous verbal instructions which keep attention focused and re-focused on specific body sensations, breathing, emotions, beliefs and images. Due to its ease of use, and safety and effectiveness with a wide range of people, iRest® is being utilized by a growing number of healthcare organizations, including the Veterans Administration, US Department of Defense, and other hospitals, homeless centers, and addiction treatment facilities.
How does Yoga Nidra Meditation work?
Rather than sitting with an erect spine and no support, iRest® offers you the option of practicing in any comfortable position. Practicing meditation while you are physically comfortable and supported makes it accessible for anyone in a wide range of health conditions and injuries. Once you are arranged in your comfortable position, the instructor (or recording) begins offering suggestions about where and how to use your attention. For example, imagining yourself in a place that feels safe, comfortable and where you are at ease. Another example would be systematically scanning the entire body, part by part, by noticing the physical sensations that are present for you. The instructions are simple, they focus primarily on your felt experiences in the body. It is easy and accessible for nearly everyone, even those that thought they could never meditate.
Yoga Nidra Meditation is simple, easy and convenient.
You don’t have to meditate for 20 years to experience the benefits immediately.
You don’t have to sit still and quiet the mind.
You do Yoga Nidra meditation lying down and just follow the guided meditation on the recording.
The benefits of practicing
Yoga Nidra Meditation
Research indicates many physical and psychological benefits of iRest practice, including:
Enhances ability to act effectively under high degrees of stress.
Increases concentration
Alleviates symptoms of many psychological & physical conditions including anxiety, panic, depression, and chronic pain
Decreases negative mood and perceived stress
Improves social functioning
Decreases chronic care visits to health care centers
Enhances self-efficacy, including recognition of the value of self-care to improve health and well-being
Physical
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improves the quality of your sleep and the amount of your sleep
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reduces your chronic pain suffering
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soothes your autonomic nervous system
Mental
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enhances your mental focus and attention span
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improves your creativity and whole brain functioning
Emotional
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gives you more ease and peace of mind in daily life
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helps create new neural pathways in your brain leading to healthy habits & routines
Yoga Nidra meditation is a deeply profound experience of physical, mental and emotional relaxation.
Regular practice of meditation like Yoga Nidra can help restore and maintain your vital life energy, prevent disease and even improve your mood. You will find that you will respond to stressful situations in your life with more calm and ease.
Is right for me?
If you currently suffer from a condition such as:
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anxiety
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chronic pain
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depression
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insomnia
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Post-Traumatic Stress
You may find that with regular practice your symptoms will decrease and you will have a greater sense of ease in your life.
Whether you are an experienced meditator or a novice, Yoga Nidra meditation is very easy and you can enjoy the benefits after one session.