Price: Free
Available in: information timer
I have always found the transition between the hustle and bustle of daily life and winding down for the evening to be a challenge. Fortunately, bringing a guided meditation ritual to my night helps me switch gears, calming any lingering mental chatter and melting away physical stress. Specifically, I like to practice yoga nidra meditation, also known as yogic sleep.
To prepare, I unroll my yoga mat in a quiet space and settle in with pillows and blankets. I usually dim the lights and light a candle to infuse my space with a sense of rest. Once prepared, I choose a yoga nidra meditation, often from the Insight Timer app, where you can find free guided meditations and mindfulness content. A yoga nidra can last anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour, so I choose one based on my schedule. One of my favorite meditations is “Yoga Nidra to Reconnect and Expand Perspective,” a 49-minute nidra practice by Jana Roemer available on Insight Timer.
Once I am comfortable lying on my yoga mat, I begin the meditation, which involves being guided to pay attention to different sounds in the room and outside the room, and finally drawing my attention through a “scan body”, during which I am guided to notice different parts of my body, step by step, from head to toe. Once the meditation is complete, I feel relaxed, calm and centered, and if I can practice yoga nidra every night, I also notice less anxiety and general stress both (physical and mental) throughout my days.
—Meaghan Harmon, Associate Editor
Source: news.google.com