The ancient yogic practice of yoga nidra is meant to bring the practitioner into a state of conscious deep sleep.
Nidra is marked by absolute calm, quiet and clarity within the body and mind of the practitioner. In this state, the practitioner is able to release patterns of conditioning (samskaras) that are the driving force behind one's actions (karmas) in day to day, moment to moment life.
As Richard Miller, PhD, states, "We use yoga nidra to investigate and go beyond our limiting beliefs and conditioning, so that we may live a contented life, free of conflict, anxiety, fear, dissatisfaction and suffering. In its ultimate form, we use yoga nidra to unravel the sacred mystery of life and reveal the secret of enlightenment."
Although many people refer to any guided relaxation practice within yoga as yoga nidra, the state of deep sleep goes far beyond simply being relaxed.
In the state of yoga nidra, there are no external objects or internal images in the mind.
For as we will discuss, there are three levels of consciousness: conscious, unconscious and subconscious. Objects and images belong to the first two levels (conscious and unconscious), while yoga nidra deals with the last level (subconscious) wherein reside samskaras.
Various relaxation techniques, such as guided imagery, body scanning and autogenic relaxation are used to draw the practitioner from the level of consciousness (awake), through the level of unconsciousness (sleeping) and into the level of subconsciousness (deep sleep).
This process usually requires 20 to 45 minutes in order for the practitioner to actually move through the layers of consciousness.
In the level of consciousness, the conscious mind is active and directed externally upon the gross world and internally upon the conscious thought patterns.
In the level of unconsciousness (sleeping), the conscious mind falls back and the unconscious mind becomes active.
Here, images and impressions stored in the unconscious stream forth, providing well for the dreaming process.
In the level of subconsciousness (deep sleep), the subconscious mind is found.
There are no material (gross) objects, images or impressions on which to focus.
The focus now is upon the potential, latent and inactive thought patterns (samskaras) that lie within the fabric of the mind.
Yoga nidra allows the practitioner to access the subconscious mind, viewing and thus weakening the samskaric patterns within.
As the patterns are weakened and then broken, the practitioner is able to overcome conditioning and respond to the world in a more clear and mindful way.
The veil of maya (illusion) is lifted and the practitioner is able to see all as it truly is.