What is Yoga Nidra?

In his authoritative text on all things yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar defines yoga-nidra as:


The sleep of yoga, where the body is at rest as if in sleep while the body remains fully conscious, though all its movements are still. 


If it doesn't sound like your usual idea of relaxation, that's because it's not. Unlike other forms of relaxation, such as swimming, spending time in nature or listening to our favourite music, yoga-nidra has the ability to bring your body into a state of deep relaxation - a state where the mind quietens, physical tension drains away and even your heart beat and breathing slow down.

Deep Sleep and Peaceful Dreams

When I teach my 6:30pm Yin classes, I often ask my students to focus in on the special evening energy around them. As we move through the gentle practice, I encourage them to breathe in the evening, taking in it's calming and restorative effects. At the end of the class we focus on "riding the wave" of our peaceful practice all the way to bedtime and hopefully a sound night's sleep.  

Ideally, every night would consist of some calming, sleep-inducing activity but the reality is that most of us are too busy to put aside an hour for our practice in the evenings. So, what's a stressed-out city dweller to do, I hear you ask? Well, rest assured there are a few simple ways to improve the quality of your sleep with relatively little effort.

Yoga for Colds and Flu

With the seasons changing and no end in sight to the wet weather, it's a good time to start thinking about natural ways we can boost our immune system and fight off the sniffles as we head into Winter. A regular yoga practice can boost your immune system, resulting in fewer and less severe colds but once you feel those symptoms coming on, it's time to modify your practice and allow your body to heal.  


Below are just a few ways you can stave off that nasty cold, the natural way!

Yoga and Back Pain

With most of our lives these days spent hunched in front of screens - at work, at home, even on the bus! - it should come as no surprise that one of most common ailments among my students is general back pain. As anyone who suffers from back pain can tell you, it can have significant personal impact on an individual’s health and quality of life and is notoriously difficult to treat. As a teacher, I see all sorts of spinal issues on a daily basis as well as the positive effects that a regular yoga practice can have on my students' (and my own) spinal health.