No form of meditation can be classified as ‘the best’ as each style has its own special benefits. What works for one person may not work for another because each one’s needs and bodies are different. However, there is no denying the benefits of daily meditation. Until you’re comfortable with the style that suits your needs, there’s no harm in trying out a variety of styles. With 25 types of meditations to choose from, you’re really spoiled for choice!
]]>No form of meditation can be classified as ‘the best’ as each style has its own special benefits. What works for one person may not work for another because each one’s needs and bodies are different. However, there is no denying the benefits of daily meditation. Until you’re comfortable with the style that suits your needs, there’s no harm in trying out a variety of styles. With 25 types of meditations to choose from, you’re really spoiled for choice!
If you’ve never done meditation in your life then this is where you should start. For someone who has never attempted to connect with their inner selves by sitting in silence on a yoga mat, meditation can be a bit overwhelming. The first step to beginning a meditation practice is to set aside a regular hour every day and stay committed. Beginners’ meditation generally begins with an easy sequence to initiate yourself to the practice. As you become more comfortable with concentrating on your breath and becoming more aware of various sensations, you can switch to more difficult techniques. Beginner’s meditation is all about being able to sit still with a blank mind for short spells of time. Begin with three or five minutes and then increase the length of time. Also, it’s important to have a clear motivation for meditating, whether it’s for better focus or to deal with stress.
Guided Meditation is a more modern style of meditating with guidance. It is one of the easiest types of meditation to begin with as the meditator is helped by an instructor or some equipment. In the past, meditation was all about determination and the will power to remain focused. However, not everyone has the ability to rise above distractions and stay focused. Guided Meditation is therefore a great way to start out on your meditation journey until you get more used to it. Guided meditations are generally offered in the form of audio or a podcast. The traditional audio has the voice of the instructor guiding you towards the meditative state with large gaps of silence. The teacher first explains the dynamics of the mind and how it will respond to meditation. An explanation of the techniques and how you integrate them into your daily life, may also follow. You can choose from a wide range of guided meditations to suit your specific needs.
One of the best types of mediation for beginners is the Body Scan Meditation. As its name suggests, this meditation is all about becoming more aware of your body. It is designed to sync the body and mind by carrying out a mental scan of your body. Beginning with the top of your head, with eyes closed, go over every part of your body taking note of every sensation that you feel. With this method of meditation you become more aware of how your body feels without trying to change anything. During the process if you feel your mind wandering, stop and go back to where you left off. This type of meditation can be practiced three to six times a week for a minimum time of 20 minutes.
Noting is a form of meditation that makes you more aware of distractions. This isn’t a fixed technique but unique to each individual. As you focus on your breath or sit still, you begin to ‘note’ anything that distracts your focus. The reason for taking note of these distractions is to restore awareness. We become more attuned to our thought process. Mental noting helps the mind by giving it something to do rather than being a distraction. The main function of noting is to keep the meditator tuned to the ‘now,’ like an anchor.
Like its name suggests, this type of meditation is all about focus. The main focus is on your breath. In Focused attention meditation, the breath is the anchor to attention. Every time the mind wanders, you pull it back by refocusing on your breathing. Although the breath is usually the main focus of this meditation, you can substitute it with tangible objects or even a mantra. Over a period of time the attention to these objects becomes stronger.
Open Monitoring is possibly one of the easier types of meditation to follow. Here the focus is not on one object or intangible but on keeping the mind open to various sensibilities. All aspects of our experiences, thoughts and feelings are monitored without judgment. In this type of meditation we go through each experience from one moment to the next without reacting.
In Japanese, Zazen translates as ‘seated Zen.’ This seated form of meditation traces its roots to the Chinese Zen Buddhism (Ch’an) tradition. It was traditionally performed in the ‘lotus’ or ‘half-lotus’ position. These days however, most practitioners sit in a more comfortable position with their backs completely straight. The eyes are kept lowered and the gaze fixed on the ground. In this position the mind focuses on the breath that is being inhaled and exhaled. Another method to Zen meditation is to sit in the present with no specific object. To be in the moment, observing the surroundings and thoughts. The aim of this meditation is to nurture alertness and a sense of being in the present. Zen Meditation is usually practiced in Zen Buddhist centers and is often paired with other elements of Buddhism.
Mindfulness is the ability of a person to be totally aware of their thoughts and actions without overreacting to them. It means being present and fully engaged in the moment without any distractions or preconceived notions. Adapted from traditional Buddhist meditation practices like Vipassana, it is not a temporary action. Instead, it is a way of life. Unlike other meditation forms, mindfulness does not eliminate stress. It just makes you more aware of your thoughts and emotions, giving you an opportunity to handle them better. In fact, mindfulness rewires the brain towards more positive thoughts and emotions. The first step to mindfulness is meditation. When we learn to be mindful of ourselves and our surroundings, it eventually becomes another part of our lives.
Metta is a word from the ancient Pali language that stands for kindness. This form of Buddhist meditation is all about compassion and selfless love towards ourselves and others. By promoting empathy towards yourself and others it fosters better relationships and also builds a positive mindset. When you’re able to empathize with others, you let go of negative emotions which in turn leads to less stress. This type of meditation is extremely flexible and can be practiced at anytime, anywhere.
Another Buddhist form of meditation, Vipassana dates back to the 6th century BC. The modern form of Vipassana, however, originated in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. It is one of the more popular types of meditations practiced in the West. Vipassana makes you use your concentration to examine certain aspects of your life through an imaginary lens. Very similar to focused attention meditation, the practice helps in getting a clear insight into the mind and body. Sensations and thoughts are observed without any attachment. Vipassana usually begins with breathing awareness with the attention focused on your breath.
Mantras are generally syllables or words that are used to help the mind focus through repetition. These words or syllables do not have any real meaning and are not affirmations. The main purpose of using mantras during meditation is to be able to focus the mind. However, some teachers insist on using the correct pronunciation of the word to feel the vibration associated with the sound. The belief is that the subtle vibrations produced with repeating a mantra can bring about a positive change. It also helps the mind move into a deeper state of meditation. One of the most common mantras is ‘Om.’ However, there are thousands of other mantras from both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Many people find that it is easier to focus when using a mantra rather than focusing on the breath.
A widely practiced type of meditation worldwide is Transcendental Meditation. Introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the guru to the Beatles, this form of meditation has found many takers. Unlike other forms of meditation, Transcendental Meditation is taught one-on-one by a trained instructor and cannot be learned by yourself. The meditation session is for 20 minutes, twice a day. Many research papers extoll this form of meditation due to its numerous health benefits. A study published in Military Medicine showed that this form of meditation had a profound effect on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). TM has also been shown to benefit prisoners and patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Yogic meditation is not narrowed down to one form of meditation but encompasses all the types of meditations that are taught by the different types of yoga. This form of meditation is one of the oldest types of meditation to be practiced and has a wide variety of practices. Yoga is often referred to as ‘moving meditation’ and many different styles of yoga, incorporate meditation into their sessions. Shavasana, the relaxed pose at the end of a yoga practice is said to be the bridge between yoga and meditation. With so many different styles of yoga to choose from, finding a style of yogic meditation that suits you will not be too difficult.
This is a Hindu meditative form which is generally a part of a yoga session. It deals with the various energy centers (chakras) in the body. There are seven chakras in all, that run down the body from the top of the head to the base of the spine. Chakras that are blocked or out of balance can result in negative repercussions for the body. The aim of Chakra Meditation is to bring about a balance in these chakras by keeping them fluid, open, and aligned.
A Chinese word, meaning ‘life energy cultivation,’ Qigong is often confused with Tai Chi because of its movements. However, although they share many characteristics the two are both distinct practices. Similar to Tai Chi, this form of meditation involves inner focus, regulated breathing and slow body movements. It harnesses the bodily energy through pathways called ‘meridians.’ During meditation, when the energy is directed inward it can heal the body. Likewise, directing the energy outward can help with another person’s healing. Qigong has a wide variety of exercises that involve over 80 kinds of breathing. This body-mind exercise was once shrouded in secrecy and only taught to a select few.
Tao is another Chinese word that means ‘living in harmony.’ It traces its roots to the ancient Chinese religion and philosophy of Daoism. Buddhist meditation practices brought from India gradually melded into Taoism. Circulation and transformation of the inner energy is one of the main characteristics of Taoist meditation. This generation and circulation of the inner energy brings about a quietness of body and mind. Taoist meditation is generally categorized into three groups. Visualization, insight and concentration are the three broad categories of this type of meditation.
Many people are often skeptical about Sound Meditation as they are of the firm belief that meditation is done in silence. Sound Meditation also known as Nada Yoga focuses on sound. It basically means ‘union through sound,’ an inner transformation that is brought about by sound. The meditation begins with hearing, listening to external sounds (ahata) and then gradually moving towards listening to internal sounds (anahata). The external sounds could be a mantra, music, or the Tibetan singing bowl. As the meditator becomes more attuned to listening to the internal sounds of his/her being, the external sounds are gradually turned down. Various spiritual and psychological conditions benefit from the sound vibrations and resonances that Nada Yoga uses. Nada Yoga also helps to relieve stress, insomnia and negative mindsets.
Yoga Nidra is a combination of yoga and meditation. Also known as dynamic sleep, Yoga Nidra is a kind of antithesis to meditation. While meditation is all about focusing on a tangible or intangible feeling or object, Yoga Nidra withdraws from these active senses. It is the state between wakefulness and sleep, where the body is relaxed but the mind is still lucid. This guided meditation takes the practitioner through the five layers of self. It focuses on cultivating multiple layers of wellbeing.
Broken down, Mer means “a light that rotates,” ka is “spirit,” and ba is “physical body.” This energy body meditation technique traces its roots to Egypt. It is a simple yet powerful meditation technique that has immense benefits. The premise of this meditation is that the body is surrounded by energy fields in the form of geometric shapes. These energy fields are in continuous motion around the body and rotate at a fixed speed. However, for people who are stressed out or depressed these fields tend to slow down or come to a complete halt. Merkaba mediation kick starts these fields back into motion. This form of meditation comprises 18 different breathing exercises. Each exercise needs to be mastered before moving on to the next one as each is a step towards balancing the energy fields.
Visualization is all about creating a picture in your mind. Many sports persons and artists use visualization to help them achieve a goal. Visualization Meditation combines visualization with meditation. It is another type of focus meditation but instead of the breath, the focus is on a mental picture of a person, object or even an activity. Although it may seem a little difficult to conjure up an image at first, it doesn’t take long to get used to this form of meditation. It’s quite easy to think about someone or something you like. Conjuring up positive images are fairly easy. Loving kindness meditation is a form of visualization. In Metta meditation you send love and kindness to a person that you conjure up in your mind’s eye.
One of the best types of meditation for someone carrying excess baggage is Letting Go Meditation. When one is weighed down by extra burdens, there is generally no space for positive or new energy. Releasing attachments to jobs, relationships or people creates space for better energy to flow in. When we allow ourselves to let go, the process of healing begins. This meditation is often performed through breathing and visualization exercises. It is a more guided form of meditation where the teacher guides you past the negatives.
A form of yogic meditation, Third Eye Meditation focuses on a spot between the eyebrows. This is one of the chakras (energy centers) of the body called the ‘ajna chakra’ or simply the third eye. Yoga believes that the third eye is the seat of wisdom and intuition. It is also the spiritual center of inner knowledge that fosters creativity. Like most forms of meditation, Third Eye Meditation requires you to sit still in a quiet environment as you focus on this chakra. Every time the mind wanders, divert your attention back to this spot to silence the mind.
Walking meditation stems from the Buddhist tradition of mindfulness, of being in the now. As the name suggests, the focus of this meditation is on the act of walking. You become mindful of each step that you take, how your foot connects to the ground and the sensations on your feet. When the mind begins to wander, draw it back to the present by focusing on the next step. The purpose of this meditation is to press the slow down button and bring the mind in sync with the body. Walking meditation is good for beginners and people who don’t like sitting in one place for long periods. Start this meditation for a short duration of 10 minutes until you get more tuned to it.
Popularized by the Indian sage Ramana Maharishi in the 20th century, Self-Enquiry Meditation is looking within to find one’s true self. With this kind of meditation the question of “Who am I?” arises. However, answers that just spring to mind are generally rejected to focus on the deeper meaning of “I am.” When you contemplate on the “I” deeply enough you’ll find inner freedom and peace. For someone who is a newbie to meditation, this type of meditation will be a little difficult to follow through. A good idea would be to start off with some guided meditations to get you started.
The name itself tells you what this form of meditation is all about. As you meditate, the focus is on the feeling of gratitude for your life. It makes you reflect on the things in life that you’re grateful for. The appreciation for different actions, people and events brings about a feeling of contentment. Gratitude helps shift our perspective from negative emotions and opens our minds to a positive state. One of the best things of this meditation is that you can do it at any time, anywhere. However, a good time to practice Gratitude Meditation would be at the end of the day, when you can sit quietly and reflect on all the good parts of the day. Begin with 10 minutes and then move on to a longer meditation time. As you become more familiar with the feeling of appreciation, you become more tuned to the present and your emotions.
]]>Many scientific studies extoll the numerous and varied benefits of meditation. Different types of yoga also incorporate meditation into their practice. The best thing about meditation is that you can do it anywhere at any time. Just 20 minutes of meditation every day is enough to see positive results. Although many people prefer to sit on a yoga mat in stillness, there are others who prefer a more active style of meditation. No matter what style you choose, there is no denying the positive benefits of daily meditation.
One of the biggest benefits of daily meditation is a considerable dip in stress levels. When we meditate on a daily level the mind becomes more relaxed. This in turn helps to create a balance in the activation of the nervous system. It also balances hormonal levels. If the mind is relaxed, the tendency to overreact to situations will become less. Scientific research shows that meditation also reduces depression and anxiety. College students stand to benefit tremendously from meditation, especially when they’re stressed out about their career paths. Likewise, with working professionals. Managing work-related stress becomes much easier. This is one of the reasons why big corporates have introduced meditation in the workplace.
A dip in stress levels also leads to a dip in anxiety. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which is a newer kind of meditation, has shown to reduce a person’s anxiety. This form of meditation developed at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts, has also been credited with helping people with social anxiety disorder (SAD). A study conducted by a team from Stanford University deduced that MBSR was responsible for providing relief from symptoms of social anxiety. Another study also concluded that meditation also improved the mood, functionality and quality of life of patients with SAD.
It is a known fact that the most common causes for sleep disorders are anxiety and stress. When the mind goes into overdrive when thinking about problems and fears, sleep is literally a distant dream. Even if one is eventually able to fall asleep, it won’t be a restful sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to several other disorders. Rather than resorting to medication, a tried and tested method for good sleep is daily meditation. A relaxed mind improves psychological well-being which in turn helps with sleep. Apart from regular meditation, a good way to improve sleep would be to practice Yoga Nidra. For an insomniac, the benefits from yoga nidra and daily meditation are immense.
Self-Awareness is going deep within yourself to understand and connect with who you really are. It’s a physical and spiritual awareness. These days everyone is so caught up with the whirlwind of activity that is around, we tend to lose our true selves. Who we really are sometimes gets drowned in the perception of what others think. Being in touch with your inner self helps with a better understanding of how you cope with various situations. Quieting the mind through meditation will help connect with your true self. Understanding who you are is the first step towards overall healing.
While the benefits of daily meditation are immense, the most profound of these benefits is on a person’s mental health. Daily meditation develops positive emotions, leading to a higher level of psychological well-being. Research shows that regular meditation can increase the gray matter as well as the cortical thickness of the brain. These two areas are responsible for many of the emotional responses of the brain. Besides this, meditation can also decrease negative neurological connections to the ‘me center’ of the brain. When this happens negative traits such as anxiety, fear and stress are reduced. It literally rewires the brain towards more positive thoughts and emotions.
You may not see the immediate benefits of daily meditation on your level of empathy but with time it will become obvious. Very often we become judgmental or harsh towards people around us because of the constant mental chatter. Kindness is often drowned out by this chatter and lost in the far recesses of our mind. Meditating puts us in touch with our deeper selves. When we understand our own pain it helps us to empathize with the sufferings of others. There is a general misconception that when we set out on a path of meditation for compassion it is for the benefit of others. However, this is only partly true. The journey inward makes us kinder towards ourselves and in doing so develops empathy for others.
Many scientific studies show that there is a positive link between mindfulness and the quality of a relationship. A person who is in tune with his emotions will obviously foster better relations. Studies have shown that people who practice meditation on a daily basis are more in control of their emotions. It’s easier for such people to bounce back from a tense situation. In doing so, conflicts are handled more amiably, leading to better relationships. Children also benefit greatly from mindful parenting.
A few years ago, a study published by UCLA found that meditation had a positive impact on the aging brain. The study revealed that people who practiced meditation regularly had more gray matter throughout the brain as they aged compared to those who did not. Although researchers expected to find a small difference in the two, they were quite taken aback by their findings. They observed that meditation had a widespread effect on the entire brain. This finding is again connected to lower stress levels. How often have we commented on how a person who has gone through a trauma has aged? More stress puts are body through a series of reactions that are detrimental to its health.
Another observation regarding meditation and aging is to do with telomeres. These are protein caps that are present on the end of chromosomes in the body. During cell division, the replication of chromosomes leads to a shortening of telomeres. Telomeres that become too short can no longer replicate which leads to aging. A study conducted on participants who took part in a meditation retreated noted that there was an increase in the length of telomeres after the retreat. The study also concluded that any practice that triggered relaxation response such as yoga or prayer helped with the production of telomerase.
Inability to concentrate for long periods is a trait that is generally associated with children. However, it’s not just children but adults too who suffer from this. One of the greatest benefits of daily meditation is undoubtedly better concentration leading to improved attention. Since meditation is all about focusing on an object or idea, it’s no surprise that it improves people’s cognitive skills. Mindfulness stops the mind from wandering. Research has also shown that this improved attention is not short lived but can last up to five years. Several studies have also shown that meditation helps Attention Deficit Activity Disorder (ADHD).
The Walt Disney Company was one of the earliest companies to realize the benefits of daily meditation to boost creativity. When meditation was introduced into the workplace, there was a dramatic increase in creativity. Many other companies have since realized this invaluable practice for boosting creativity. Google also has a mindfulness program for its employees called ‘Search Inside Yourself.’ The company also has a labyrinth for mindful walking meditations.
Numerous studies show that meditators have a tendency to come up with novel ways to solve problems as against those who did not meditate. Non meditators had a greater cognitive rigidity and generally came up with more ‘boring’ solutions. Meditation brings about a greater awareness which in turn creates conditions to move through problems effortlessly.
Given that meditation has positive effects on the self-control regions of the brain, it can help people on their path to recovery from addictions. Smokers who have undergone a course in meditation are more likely to quit. This is because meditation reverses psychological and physiological factors that lead to substance abuse. When you meditate you are able to separate the state of craving from the act. You’ll be able to control this wave of craving until it passes. The main reason for this is lowered stress levels. With a decrease in stress levels, cravings for stress busters will also disappear. Other forms of addiction have also been shown to benefit from daily meditation.
Since meditation has been shown to lower sensitivity to stress, it also keeps blood pressure under control. When the person’s nervous system becomes more resilient it reduces damaging spikes in blood pressure. An experiment involving high blood pressure patients using a technique known as ‘relaxation response’ showed significant results. 2/3 of the patients involved in the experiment showed significant drops in blood pressure after practicing meditation for just three months. Another controlled study on people over 55 years old suffering from hypertension yielded similar results.
Meditation has also been shown to have a positive effect on the health of the heart. Consistent meditation reduces carotid artery intima-media thickness which is one of the major reason for atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the thickening of the walls of the arteries resulting in the accumulation of cholesterol. A controlled study from 2007 also showed that Transcendental Meditation improved the quality of life for patients suffering from congestive heart failure. Another study from late 2012, involving a group of 200 high-risk individuals over a span of five years revealed more positive results of meditation on the heart. Researchers noted that participants who had opted for meditation as a means of improving their health had a 48% reduction in their overall risk of heart attack.
]]>Some call it the Yogic Sleep, while others may know it as a form of meditation. But both sides would agree that Yoga Nidra offers tons of benefits. Even from the very beginning, you’ll see how it affects you, both physically and mentally. In line with our vision in Yoga Matto, all 11 benefits of Yoga Nidra lead into one thing: your complete wellbeing. Let’s dig dipper into this simple method of yoga everyone can benefit from.
]]>Even though it’s often considered as meditation, Yoga Nidra is something else. Yes, both do share the same goal. But they work in two distinctive ways. Meditation helps you channel all of your senses to focus on a certain thought, feeling, or state, depending on its aim. On the other hand, Yoga Nidra lets you withdraw from all of those senses to reach beyond your consciousness. That’s quite the opposite.
So how does this work? As you perform Savasana or the corpse pose, your body is guided to reach its most relaxed state. Unlike sleeping, you’re fully awake during Yoga Nidra, but all of your senses are resting. In other words, through Yoga Nidra, you’ll reach a certain state between being awake and sleeping. This state is called Samadhi. It’s Sanskrit for “a state of at which union with the divine is reached”. Indonesia has the term “Semedi”, which is the act of intense meditation. Getting to this ultimate state, there are steps your body will have to go through. These steps are called the Pancha Maya Kosha or The Five Layer of Self.
First of all, don’t get us wrong. Yoga Nidra cannot replace our 5-12 hours of night’s sleep. It just has certain benefits that even the best night’s sleep cannot give. Sometimes, we have unpredicted dreams or nightmares on nights we’re sound asleep. Some people even have problems with sleep-talking, or worse: sleepwalking. These happen because we don’t have full control of our mind and body when we’re asleep. It’s as if we let our subconscious to take over the wheel.
Through Yoga Nidra, you’ll reach the same level of relaxation (or even better) as you’re sleeping. Yet, you’re still on the driver’s seat. You are in control. Instead of letting your mind wander off to unpleasant dreams, you guide it to the thoughts you desire.
Even though you’re fully awake, Yoga Nidra brings you to a more relaxed state compared to when you’re sleeping. To help you understand this better, let’s dig a little deeper into our states of mind below.
This is our state of mind when we’re awake. Our brain fully functions with dozens of thoughts per second. Your brain can go from thinking about “What’s for lunch?” to recapping the last Netflix series you watched in just a matter of split seconds. In this state, we’re far from being relaxed.
Just like Beta, we’re fully awake on the Alpha wave. But here, we’re more relaxed. Your thoughts are more controlled, instead of jumping from food to TV series. Your train of thoughts is more organized, so to speak. And instead of dozens of things, your brain goes around 5-10 thoughts per second only.
This is the state we have during REM sleep. We’re completely relaxed, but still with thoughts in mind. However, our brain’s speed goes as low as 3 thoughts per second.
Also known as the restorative state, this is where your brain goes when you’re under anesthesia or in a coma. Usually, you would only have 1-2 thoughts per second. Sometimes, just one single thought the entire time. When our brain is on the Delta wave, our body takes time to heal and restore energy, hence the name restorative state. This is as relaxed as our sleep can take us. And believe it or not, Yoga Nidra takes you even deeper than this state. On that note, let’s get started on the benefits of Yoga Nidra.
Let’s pick up where we left off earlier. Through Yoga Nidra, you’ll reach a state that is more relaxed than Delta. While Delta wave still leaves you with a thought or two, Yoga Nidra’s state of relaxing is thoughtless. This way, your brain can fully relaxed and restore, more than what sleep can do. In other words, not even your best regular sleep can take you to this level of relaxation. The more often you practice Yoga Nidra, the better you are at reaching that state. Combine your regular sleep with the Yogic sleep, and you’ll get better quality sleep.
Besides increasing your sleep quality, Yoga Nidra helps you fall asleep better. We’ve met a lot of yoga practitioners in our class who suffered from insomnia. So we recommend them trying Yoga Nidra. Through guided meditation at first, this problem went away gradually. Now, they’re in control of when they want to sleep and even how long they need to!
If you have a similar problem, Yoga Nidra is your answer. Bring Savasana into your bedtime routine and you’ll soon realize how easy it is to fall asleep. While the Yoga Nidra session itself can go from 30 minutes to 1 hour, you can adjust this to your routine. We recommend 15 minutes before bedtime. And if you’re new, you can follow a guided session first until you can surf the waves yourself.
Adapting Yoga Nidra into your bedtime routine doesn’t just help you fall asleep, but also energizes you more when you wake up. This is achieved through the previous two benefits of Yoga Nidra. As you fall asleep better, you spend no time staring blankly at the ceiling or counting sheep. And with better quality sleep, you don’t need to sleep 12 hours to finally feel well-rested. There’s nothing better than feeling fully refreshed in the morning. You’ll be up for whatever the day brings upon you!
Once you reach the sense of wholeness, you're in full control of your thoughts. No more dwelling on the past or worrying too much about the future. You get to decide how long and how deep you can ponder without being carried away with your bad thoughts. And through breathing awareness, you can face your anxiety and fear on your term.
Yoga Nidra has been proven to increase the dopamine level in the human brain. Dopamine is a hormone your brain produces to help you relax. It’s what you need to face the day with optimism. This is your fuel of happiness. However, only certain things help trigger dopamine production. And as we get older (and perhaps more sour), we continue to lose grip on those particular things. Unfortunately, some people take a shortcut by taking active drugs. Yes, that “high” sensation is what dopamine is all about. And you can get that through Yoga Nidra.
Stress affects your health, not just mentally but also physically. When we’re stressed, our heart rates usually spike up. This results in tons of health issues, including high blood pressure. But as our body learns to cope better with stress, our blood pressure decreases gradually. In some cases, Yoga Nidra also helps reducing cholesterol levels!
Some cases of a heart attack occur when the body suddenly has to endure a drastic change in heart rates, whether it’s increasingly high or dropping low. That’s why working out is important to let our hearts get used to these changes.
While going to the gym or cardio exercises may not be practical for you, Yoga Nidra can be a great alternative. Through some breathing techniques, you bring your heart rate as low as possible in the most relaxed state. Then, you bring it back up while regaining full consciousness of your surroundings. This simple practice helps your heart exercise and improves its HRV. As a result, you get a healthier heart without having to run for miles every day.
Yoga Nidra is as easy as breathing, figuratively, and literally. Besides a good alternative to cardio exercise, it's also a great way for you to start yoga. Anyone can do Yoga Nidra. Your kids and grandparents can join in too! Unlike the long holds of Asana or the intense flows of Vinyasa, Yoga Nidra is simple and easy.
Reaching the ultimate state with a sense of wholeness means you have better control of yourself, especially your mental wellbeing. Even if you still cannot cope with it in the long term, during that 30 minutes or 1 hour Yoga Nidra, you gain full control. At least for that period, you are with yourself and able to overcome your anxieties.
If we have to choose one among all benefits of Yoga Nidra, this is probably the best and most important. This benefit has been tested by so many professionals, including the army. Yoga Nidra is used as a meditation technique to help soldiers cope with PTSD.
As human beings, we have suffered in the past. And some of us are still haunted by it. Let Yoga Nidra heal your psychological trauma. Breathe in all the sense of joy and breathe out all the negativity.
Yoga Nidra takes you through The Five Layers of Self to regain control of your mind and body. As you peel layer by layer, you dig deeper, beyond your conscious. Through this journey, you get to know more about yourself. What your limit is. And what you can accomplish. On this journey, it’s just you and yourself, nothing else in between. Not even the swarming thoughts you could not shake off in the past. As you reach deeper, you explore more about yourself and your true potential.
All of these benefits to Yoga Nidra lead to one thing: better you. This includes better health and a better quality of life. As you find a way to be more relaxed, you’d feel so much better. And as you sleep better at night, you’ll be ready for whatever’s ahead of you.
Through practicing Yoga Nidra, your heart works better. Your blood pressure becomes normal. And your mind is free of nonsense thoughts. Who would’ve thought a simple breathing meditation can have so many important benefits?
From the ancient days of guru in India to modern practitioners worldwide nowadays, Yoga Nidra has taken over the world. Knowing these 11 benefits of Yoga Nidra, that should come as no surprise. Instead of putting aside or forgetting your problems, Yoga Nidra helps you face them without the negativity. Think of it as learning how to surf. But instead of the ocean, it's the wave of your anxiety.
Let’s help you surf the waves with the best yoga partner you can have. Choosing eco-friendly yoga mat doesn’t just help protect our earth, but also your health. Unfortunately, most yoga mats are made of PVC or plastic material. This is not just bad for the environment, but also affects your wellbeing greatly. We dig deeper into how PVC yoga mat affects your health in another article. What you need to know now is that using a PVC yoga mat may cancel all the benefits of Yoga Nidra. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to you by choosing only the best eco-friendly yoga mat.
So, how should we begin your journey through the exciting yet relaxing Yoga Nidra world? It’s so simple and easy. Everyone in your household can join in! Perhaps you can start doing it as your cooling down session after a workout at home? Or how about including it as your hiking group activity? Grab a yoga mat and do Savasana out in the open, surrounded by trees and nature. Now that’s relaxing!
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