We all come to yoga for different reasons. Traditionally, however,
one does not go to yoga to lose a few pounds. According to the Eight
Limbs of Yoga, certain rules regarding personal and universal conducts,
called Yamas and Niyamas, are observed before one gets to the Asanas --
the exercises that most of us associate with yoga today. After Asanas,
the ancients text says one should practice Pranayamas, or energy
management though breath control. Then,after that, we get to Pratyahara,
where experiences beyond the physical can be easily observed and
psychosomatic illnesses can be dealt with at its roots. For example:
Do you suffer from the following
?
Stress... Anxiety... Sleeplessness... Irritable Bowel... Peptic Ulcer... Migraines
Yoga Nidra, which is a technique that is a part of Pratyahara, could provide the help that you need.
As
modern medicine continues to advance the cures for previously
untreatable bacterial and viral infections, our rapidly evolving culture
is giving rise to an array of psychosomatic diseases unheard of just a
generation ago. These ailments are often more pronounced among those
living in congested urban centers, wreaking havoc on the quality of
life. Contemporary medicine prescribes pills and surgeries to ease the
symptoms, but the root cause remains untouched by modern methodologies.
Yoga
Nidra is a traditional therapeutic approach that goes to the heart of
the problem. Originally developed by Swami Satyananda Saraswati of the
venerable Bihar School, Yoga Nidra is practiced in a state between
waking and sleep, when the mind is exceptionally receptive. It is
suitable for everyone, regardless of physical fitness levels. Prior
experience with yoga is not necessary.
Beware, though: there are
warped understanding that diminishes the potency of the Yoga Nidra
experience, as well-meaning but uneducated new agers seem to think that
Yoga Nidra is just a sleep aide. Two hallmarks that suggest that you are
receiving the traditional, therapeutic Yoga Nidra as taught through the
Satyananda/Bihar tradition are first, the setting of a Sankalpa, or a
resolve and next, a rotation of consciousness designed to stimulate
specific sites on the cortical homunculus in the brain. Finally, there
should be an explicit instruction to not fall asleep and stay alert
without concentration.
Since I am an avid practitioner of Yoga
Nidra and have the utmost respect for the Bihar School tradition, I am
delighted to present Yoga Nidra workshops throughout Asia. We explore
how to unburden the daily stresses that accumulate in the body and mind
in an intimate, fun and therapeutic environment. While Yoga Nidra is not
a cure for a particular disease, it paves the way for vibrant health
through deep relaxation and peace of mind.
