Relaxation does not mean sleep. Relaxation means to be blissfully happy; it has no end. I call bliss absolute relaxation; sleep is a different matter. Sleep gives only mind and sense relaxation. Bliss relaxes the atma, the inner self; that is why, in tantra, Yoga Nidra is the doorway to Samadhi.” Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Yoga Nidra, pub. Bihar School of Yoga, 1976.
Today the method of Yoga Nidra is widespread and yet few people realize that Swami Satyananda is the originator of this modern yoga-tantra technique.
Yoga Nidra is a powerful relaxation and meditation technique derived from ancient tantra and developed by Swami Satyananda of the Bihar School of Yoga. This technique induces deep relaxation of the body-mind with the ultimate aim of increasing self-awareness.
The technique of Yoga Nidra enables you to remain aware while you enter into the dream and sleeping states of consciousness. The state of Yoga Nidra occurs when you can remain conscious during the deep sleep state (called prajna in the Mandukya Upanishad).
The technique is a practical and easily accessible. It creates deep relaxation for health, mental peace and higher awareness. Yoga Nidra enables you to experience exalted states of higher consciousness.
Referred to in many Indian philosophical and mythological texts, Yoga Nidra is the state that occurs when the Indian god Vishnu sleeps at the time of the destruction of creation (called pralaya). Vishnu is the cohesive power of the universe, so when he sleeps the universe dissolves.
The modern usage of the term Yoga Nidra refers more to the relaxation and meditation technique developed by Swami Satyananda, rather than to the state of absorption into the highest Self.
Few people realize that the Swami Satyananda is the originator of Yoga Nidra.
Swami Satyananda formulated the idea for this technique while a disciple of his guru, the great yoga master Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh, during the 1940s and early 1950s.
Swami Satyananda tells of his experience when as a young student he fell asleep while people nearby chanted mantras, many of which he had not heard before. Even though he was deeply asleep during the chanting, on awakening, when he heard these mantras again, he seemed to know them. A yogi explained to him that his subtle body had heard the mantras.
In his book Yoga Nidra[1] Swami Satyananda states, “After this discovery, I began studying the tantric scriptures in a new light. I came across many important but little known practices, which interested me very much. After practicing them myself, I decided to construct a new system, called Yoga Nidra, which would incorporate the essence of these practices without any of the complicated ritualistic drawbacks.”
During the 1960s he went on to develop a process of lying meditation and mind training. The main aim was the exploration of consciousness but which had the side-effect of deep relaxation, rejuvenation, healing and increased inner strength.
The term Yoga Nidra has today become a very popular term for deep yogic relaxation meditation.
The yogi is able to awaken subtle energy.
The characteristic feature of Yoga Nidra is the systematic rotation of consciousness in the body, which originated from the tantric process of?nyasa?(meaning ‘to place’ or ‘to take the mind to a point’).”
During nyasa a yogi touches various parts of his or her body with consciousness while repeating mantras. When this is done in the prescribed manner the yogi is able to awaken subtle energy within the physical matter of the body.
Swami Satyananda’s great contribution to us all is that he has made very complex and advanced techniques accessible to everyone.
Swami Satyananda recognized that these complex and ancient tantric techniques had great potential but needed to be translated into forms that could be used in our modern lives.?He saw the great need in modern life for simple methods that have the power to reduce stress and suffering.?He simplified the ancient yoga-tantra methods and made them accessible and practical.
He recognized that by simply placing your awareness onto a part of the body that part would be relaxed and recharged. This would then open the doorway into other areas of the body-mind for further healing and rejuvenation.
He states, “The present system of Yoga Nidra, which I have devised, enables people who are unfamiliar with Sanskrit mantras to gain the full benefits of the traditional nyasa. It can be beneficially practiced by people of any religion or culture.”
[1] Saraswati, Swami Satyananda, Yoga Nidra, Bihar School of Yoga,1976, p. 3
Author: Dr Swami Shankardev Saraswati |?Copyright Big Shakti 2011
Learn authentic practices with this guided Mp3 or CD?Meditation and Yoga Nidra
Read the book?by the originator of this technique, Swami Satyananda Saraswati?Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra
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