Yoga Nidra, or "psychic sleep", is a transformative practice developed by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, founder of the Bihar School of Yoga. Rooted in the ancient tantric nayasa technique, Yoga Nidra guides practitioners through different states of consciousness, offering profound support for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia—issues common in today’s fast-paced world.

According to yogic philosophy, we experience four states of consciousness:

• Jagrit: the waking, conscious state

• Sushupti: the subconscious, including dreams

• Nidra: deep sleep, often equated with the unconscious

• Turiya: the transcendent state, a pure state of witnessing

Unlike traditional seated meditation, Yoga Nidra is practiced lying down in shavasana, allowing the body to rest fully as the mind remains receptive, absorbing each guided cue on a subconscious level. Yoga Nidra gently leads us through the first three states of consciousness, gradually cultivating a witnessing awareness.

While each teacher brings their own approach to Yoga Nidra, here at Yoga Mandir, we honor the traditional methods of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, sharing this practice with our students in its authentic form.

Through Yoga Nidra, we often encounter inner landscapes of our fears and challenges. With a patient, conscious approach, we nurture a witnessing mindset, helping us view our experiences without attachment —— a powerful step on the path to inner peace.

The Gong Element

We often pair Yoga Nidra with a Gong Bath, where the resonant frequencies of the gong accompany the guided practice. The sound gently deepens relaxation, helping the body release tension and the mind slip into quieter states with greater ease. The experience is less about listening, and more about feeling —— sound as vibration moving through you, supporting stillness without effort.

This combination of Yoga Nidra and Gong Bath allows for profound rest and reset, one working through awareness, the other through resonance.