what is yoga nidra
Coined Yogic Sleep, this motionless Yoga Practise can help with anxiety, stress & depression.
Yoga Nidra: The Gateway to Deep Relaxation and Restoration
Yoga Nidra, often referred to as "yogic sleep," is a transformative practice that takes one on a journey toward profound relaxation and inner awareness. Originating from ancient yogic traditions, Yoga Nidra has gained immense popularity in recent years as a powerful tool for stress reduction, emotional healing, and personal growth.
Derived from the Sanskrit words "yoga" meaning union and "nidra" meaning sleep, Yoga Nidra bridges the gap between wakefulness and sleep. It is a state where the body is completely relaxed, yet the mind remains conscious and receptive. Although it imitates sleep, the practitioner is encouraged to remain awake and aware throughout the practice, allowing for a deep exploration of the inner landscape. Often confused for a movement type of asana yoga practise, during Yoga Nidra the receiver is to lay motionless throughout the practise.
The purpose of Yoga Nidra is not to fall asleep, but to achieve a state of conscious relaxation that enables physical, mental, and emotional rejuvenation. It is a systematic approach that moves beyond the usual state of relaxation experienced in savasana (the resting corpse pose at the end of a yoga class), guiding practitioners to unwind deeply and tap into the limitless potential of their subconscious mind.
What happens during Yoga Nidra?
During a typical Yoga Nidra session, a facilitator or teacher skillfully guides participants through various stages.
The practice often begins with settling, getting comfortable in a laying position & prepared for the practise ahead
Your attention is brought to your senses such as feeling the temperature of your skin & the surface you are laying on
A guided a body scan, where attention is brought to different parts of the body, consciously releasing tension and promoting a sense of deep ease.
Following this, guided visualisations, breath awareness, and gentle movement of awareness through different sensations and emotions are employed to cultivate a state of heightened awareness.
The primary intention of Yoga Nidra is to elicit the relaxation response, which allows the body to activate its intrinsic healing abilities. As the mind enters a deeply relaxed state, brainwave patterns shift from the beta state (normal waking consciousness) to the alpha and theta states associated with meditation and relaxation. This encourages the release of stress, recharges the nervous system, and promotes overall well-being.
Regular practice of Yoga Nidra offers numerous benefits.
It reduces anxiety, depression, and insomnia by calming the overactive mind and balancing emotional states.
It improves concentration, creativity, and memory as the subconscious mind is accessed and positive suggestions are effortlessly absorbed.
Additionally, it strengthens the immune system, enhances self-awareness, and nurtures a deep sense of inner peace.
One hour of Yoga Nidra is supposed to be the equivalent of 4 hours sleep for the body.
Yoga Nidra is accessible to practitioners of all ages and abilities. It requires no prior experience, physical agility, or flexibility. Whether practiced for twenty minutes or an hour, it serves as a powerful tool for self-discovery, stress reduction, and personal transformation.
In a fast-paced world filled with constant hustle and bustle, Yoga Nidra offers a sanctuary for deep relaxation and restoration. By surrendering to the guided journey within, one can experience the profound benefits of this ancient practice, awakening a sense of wholeness, peace, and harmony within oneself.
Experience Yoga Nidra for yourself
Attend a Sound Sanctuary Session with Casey or enjoy this free Yoga Nidra Download & experience the healing benefits now.
How Sound Healing can positively impact the work place
Research from Champion Health shows that stress within the workplace is at an all time high & so forward thinking companies are seeking wellbeing practises to support their teams mental wellbeing.
How Sound Healing can positively impact the work place
And why your team will want to incorporate a regular wellbeing in the workplace practise
When I retrained in 2020 to become a certified sound healer it was with my own mental wellbeing in mind that I pursued this new course. I knew that sound healing had been the only practise that I had experienced that could help my busy brain, anxiety & stress. Once I qualified and started sharing sound with the world I was pleasantly surprised to hear the results my clients had, pain relief, support for depression, improved sleep, greater creativity & the list goes on. When I spoke with my clients further I noticed there were an increasing number of people who work in the corporate world seeking sound healing to help them manage their stress levels & to have some quality downtime.
I decided to do some research into the corporate world to see how employees mental health is, especially post covid and the lockdowns and in my quest to find statistics on workplace wellbeing the results blew my mind. I share some of the data with you in this blog post, as well as feedback from my corporate clients & it feels unless we take action very soon we will have a huge mental health crisis on our hands. Workloads are bigger, deadlines are shorter and despite having technology & automations on ourside, people are still working harder than ever but, to what effect?
The screenshots & data I share in this blog are from Champion Health.They have a brilliant article explaining their findings from extensive research of UK employees in a corporate working setting. I recommend checking them out as they may be able to support your company.
Wellbeing in the workplace
Many forward thinking companies such as Google, Amazon and octopus Energy have actively taken steps to support their staffs wellbeing from within the workplace by introducing services such as massage, yoga, meditation, breathwork and sound healing. Overall, staff have reported feeling:
Calmer
More peaceful
Supported by their company
Less stressed
Able to focus on their workload
They’re more loyal to their company and likely to stay in that role because the benefits are so high.
With stress, depression, financial difficulties, muscular skeletal issues and insomnia being reported to be real concerns for people. Adding Sound healing to your workplaces well-being strategy will reduce your teams stress, anxiety, pain & time off work.
Since the covid 19 lockdowns reports of mental health issues and increased. Let’s look at some statistics to better understand how employees are feeling generally at the moment.
www.championshealth.co.uk
www.championshealth.co.uk
Stress
76% of our professionals are experiencing moderate to high levels of stress - a percentage increase of 13% compared to data from 2022.
Taking into account that stress comes from various sources and that stress can effect individuals differently.
35% of employees report that the stress they experience at work is having a negative impact on them.
That’s over ⅓ of the workforce feeling the negative effects of stress. It is well known that those under high levels of stress are more likely to:
Get sick
Take days off sick
Struggle to keep up with deadlines and workload
And in turn that could negatively impact the rest of the team. And returning to the previous figure of 67% of the professionals feeling stressed - due to various reasons - that’s ¾ of the workforce potentially unable to work to their full potential as they’re unable to manage their stress load.
Anxiety and depression
Our data reveals that 60% of employees feel anxious and 56% are experiencing symptoms of depression.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain
41% of employees are currently experiencing MSK pain. In the UK alone, 7.3 million working days were lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2022.
That is a lot of time off work. Be that for recouperarion or appointments. Staff are needing time off work for support with their body. Sitting at computers for long periods in chairs is known to not be good for our body. Making small changes around the office like:
Standing desks
Physical activities
Regular breaks from the computer
Finances
Financial pressure is affecting 37% of individuals.
This makes financial pressure the leading external cause of employee stress, ahead of relationships (32%) and parenting (29%).
Without giving everyone a pay rise, another way to support financial pressures is to offer things that will be of value to the team that they may not be able to afford to do outside of work. Like Sound Healing, Yoga, Meditation. If time and money make it difficult for staff to access these services doing them at work could really help
Supporting mental health is vital because left untreated anxiety and depression can get worse. Implementing support for mental wellbeing can be the difference between confident, motivated, driven employees and vacant, preoccupied or needy staff.
Take action now, not when things get bad. Prevention is better than cure.
Why should your company implement well-being in the workplace?
If you’re thinking ‘how would this look for my company?’ Or ‘Are my staff stressed?’ Or ‘what is workplace wellbeing programs?’ Then the following lists should help you in your decision. Imagine dedicating around an hour per week to a group activity which, will help
Boost team morale
Improve productivity
Increase energy levels
Enhance the collective mood
Boost sales
It’s a well known fact that when staff are happier and less stressed they work better. Creativity flows through them, less mistakes are made and work is completed at higher standards.
What workplace activities should I chose?
There are factors to consider such as:
Team size
Their abilities (some physical exercises may not be suitable)
Their interests
The space you have available
The time of day you can assign to these activities
How regularly you can commit
What types of activities are good for wellbeing in the workplace?
Sound healing
Meditation
Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep)
Breathwork
Tai chi / qi go
Yoga
Pilates
Dance
Somatics
Journaling
Mindfulness
Colouring / art therapy
Massage
Singing
Walks in nature
Things to consider before you book
Being mindful of religions (some religions might not approve of yoga and meditation)
belief systems (vegans might not appreciate puppy yoga)
Health conditions
Limiting screen time and sitting at a desk.
Lastly it should be fun and optional. Something for the team to look forward to and enjoy. Something that makes your company forward thinking with your employees well-being a top priority, leading to staff retention and lots of eager new staff applicants.
Summary
Some practises such as sound healing can have fantastic effects on the overall teams morale. Not all the team need to participate for the whole team to benefit. The improved mood and focus is almost contagious.
Remember, It isn’t a one and done. You will need to regularly practice these well-being exercises. Most types will compliment the other so you could do a few different sessions throughout the month. I recommend a minimum of monthly sessions, weekly or fortnightly are better if your budget & time permits. Your team will thank you and long term it will be more lucrative for you.
Work with me
I offer online & face to face Sound Healing, Meditation & Yoga Nidra sessions for workplaces. Download our corporate sound healing and wellness in the workplace brochure to find out more & to book your next session.
Check out our other blogs about Sound healing int he workplace
What is Sound Healing? A Deeper connection and the science behind sound healing.
Learn what Sound Healing is exactly, the science behind how it works and start experiencing the benefits for yourself.
a Deeper connection and the science behind sound healing.
Sound healing is an ancient healing modality that has its origins all around the globe including in Egypt, India & China. It is a well-being practice that goes by many names including but not limited to sound medicine, sound meditation, sound journeys, sound baths, sound bath meditation and sound therapy.
“Everything in Life is Vibration” – Albert Einstein
How does sound healing work?
There are 3 ways Sound Healing can effect us:
Vibration
Although there are many different types of sound healing, fundamentally, it works using specially tuned instruments such as gongs, crystal singing bowls and tuning forks. They are played by a trained Sound Healer and those instruments vibrate at different frequencies (the rate per second of a vibration constituting a wave) which match frequencies in the body.
According to quantum physics, everything is energy and energy is vibration, therefore, each cell in the human body has a unique vibration & frequency. From time to time things can affect these frequencies such as poor diet, lack of sleep, stress & illness and the body becomes out of harmony. When that happens it can manifest as dis-ease and we can get sick or feel stuck in life.
Vibration in quantum physics means that everything is energy. We are beings that vibrate at certain frequencies. ~Medium.com
The image below shows brain activity in waves depending on the state we are in. There is more movement when we are awake, thinking and busy than when we are resting or during meditation. Sound Healing helps the brain move into the less active states Alpha and Theta without great effort from the participant.
Entrainment
Through a rhythmic phenomenon called entrainment wherein, a temporary synchronisation occurs between two systems in motion. The instruments which are tuned to different body parts, chakras and emotions are played & remind 100% of the cells in the body of their correct frequency. In time the cells respond by moving back into their correct vibrational speed.
Cymatics
Another way in which sound healing works is through cymatics. If you imagine a large speaker playing music, if the music is loud enough you can see the speakers moving as the music plays. Imagine you put something on top of the speaker for example some tissue paper, as the music plays the tissue will move and jump about in the air. As the music plays and the speaker vibrates the air in front of the speaker moves. This is happening inside your body on a sonic level. When you attend a Sound Healing session the vibrations from the instruments travel through the air to your body where it is received by your body via the receptors on your skin.
Hanging gong upside-down with water on its surface. As the front of the gong is stroked with the mallet the water creates beautiful ripples, waves and patterns. This is an example of cymatics and how sound vibrations effect our body.
What instruments are in a sound healing session
Depending on the practitioner you’ll likely see a variety of instruments from deep, powerful, earthly gongs and Tibetan bowls to more ethereal-sounding crystal singing bowls and chimes. Your practitioner will take you on a sound journey with energetic highs and lows to help shift a variety of energies. Usually sound healing isn’t rhythmic and instruments are intuitively played.
Gong being played at a sound healing
Who is sound healing for?
Everyone of any age, gender, race, religion or class.
You don’t have to feel you have an ‘issue’ such as anxiety, insomnia or stress to attend, although sound healing will certainly help with these too. It can be used as a self-care practice, something to energise you and as an enjoyable experience.
In this modern world, we are constantly having to filter out stressful sounds including sirens, transport, alarms etc and as our time on digital devices increases and our time outside in nature decreases Sound healing is a nice peaceful break away from busy day-to-day life and an opportunity to unwind and relax.
There are some contraindications for sound healing such as when you're in the first and third trimester of pregnancy. It is best to speak with the sound therapist practitioner before you book your first session if you are concerned.
What do I have to do?
Nothing! Most people prefer to lie down somewhere comfortable so that they can let go of physical tension. However, you can also sit up in a supported position. It is very safe and non-invasive. The receiver needs to do nothing more than approach with an open mind. Many people fall asleep during the session.
What can I expect from a sound healing session?
Everyone's experience will be different, however, there are often common things people experience including feeling really relaxed and well rested, feeling as though time slows down or goes very quickly, some people have visions and great ideas, others see beautiful sacred geometric shapes or colours. Whatever your experience during the session - it is likely to change every time as no 2 sound healing sessions are ever the same - you can rest assured that if you drift off to sleep or your mind wanders elsewhere the magic and science of sound healing will still work. You don’t have to listen or work hard to pay attention as the vibrations travel through your body using cymatics rather than just through your ears.
After a sound healing
I advise attendees to go slow after class. Take a few minutes to ground yourself - that could be with a cup of tea, taking some gentle stretches or walking around barefoot. Depending on the time of day and intention of the healing e.g. for more rest or for more creativity you may feel revitalised ready to go about your day or you may feel ready for bed. The vibrations will still be working for 24 to 48 hours after the session.
Unleash the Healing Power of Sound: Download Our Online Sound Healings Today!
You can access peaceful and transformative experiences anytime and anywhere. Gone are the days of attending physical sessions or waiting for an appointment. Simply download our sessions, and embark on your healing journey at your own pace.
Download Our Sound Healings and Liberate Your Soul
How can I book a face to face sound healing?
You can either attend a public class (link below), book a 1-2-1 , private group or corporate/work event.
Below is a Spotify playlist of some of our favourite sound healing songs for you to enjoy.
Included:
💜 9 minute - Intro to the practise
💜 30 minute - Yoga Nidra & Sound Healing experience
💜 28 minute - Yoga Nidra experience*
💜 BONUS - Great sleep guide - 15 top tips to have you sleeping soundly tonight
*Traditionally Yoga Nidra is practised without music therefore there is a second track without music played throughout the session.