What Is Yoga Nidra: Deep Relaxation to Combat Insomnia and Improve Overall Health

{"slug":"what-is-yoga-nidra","recentPosts":[{"id":"cl8kb5f23jq1w0ciscs2h2bxw","slug":"benefits-of-yoga-for-pregnancy","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"What are the Benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy?","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga for Pregnancy is excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor. Read more to understand the benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:42:36.767798+00:00","coverUrl":"kvvlqndsbow5dsckhw7i.jpg","content":{"text":"When you get pregnant, people come out of the woodworks with advice, remedies and old wives tales. Everyone’s got an opinion on how you should spend your pregnancy. But the one thing we know for sure is, yoga is great for mom and baby alike. If you’re curious about prenatal yoga, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down why this type of yoga is excellent for moms (and babies).\\nWhat is prenatal yoga?\\nPrenatal yoga was designed for women who are expecting. Rather than taking a regular class and having to worry about modifications or safety, this class is specifically designed for pregnancy. The practice can help women with common pregnancy aches and pains, ease hormonal and emotional stress and help women’s bodies prepare for birth and their postpartum journey. A regular yoga practice when pregnant has tons of amazing benefits!\\nBenefits of Prenatal yoga: \\nWe asked women who’ve done prenatal yoga while pregnant for their reviews, one said “ It’s excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor.” And they all said they’d recommend it to friends! \\nSo let's break down the benefits: \\nRelaxation : \\nPregnancy can be very stressful! But yoga will help you to relax physically, mentally and emotionally and create a safe, relaxing environment for birth. Prenatal helps you with coping and breath techniques for all stages of your pregnancy.\n\\nPreparation for birth : \\nFor first time moms, and even sometimes vets, labor can be scary. This practice will help you to learn birth techniques so you’re relaxed and ready to go!\n⁠\\nYoga can Help with Labor : \\nIn a 2015 study\\n, It was found that a regular yoga practice in the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy can improve the mother's comfort during labor and help facilitate the labor process. The “yoga group” in this study on average was in labor two hours less than those who didn’t practice. Past your due date? Prenatal Yoga is also known to help induce labor\n⁠\\nCommunity : \\nYoga classes have always been known to help us build community but during pregnancy, it's so important to have a group of women who understand what you’re going through. Taking part in a prenatal class puts you in a group of women who get it. You’ll have a built in support system and maybe even first friends for your baby!\\nFrequently Asked Questions about Prenatal Yoga:\\nIs Yoga for Pregnancy safe?\\nYes. Yoga is generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, you should always consult your doctor & make sure you’re practicing with a teacher who understands the prenatal experience and can keep you safe. Our teachers are experts in yoga and are ready to help you on your journey. If you’d like to check out our offerings, you can get started today with a two week free trial! \\nWhen during pregnancy can you practice yoga?\\nDuring your first trimester, you can stick to your regular practice with some modifications. \\nYour second trimester is a GREAT time to start prenatal yoga! At this point, you’ll be starting to officially come into your “pregnancy body” and you’ll need to be practicing poses more specific to prenatal. The second and third trimester are considered the “prep period” for your body to prepare for labor. So it's a great time to keep moving and stretching in your new skin as you make room for the baby to grow! \\nWhat yoga poses should you avoid doing? \\nFor the most part, yoga is considered safe during pregnancy. You really only need to focus on any poses that put pressure on your abdomen. You should avoid any and all twisting poses, backbends and inversions.. \\nYoga for Pregnancy Poses you can perform at Home :\\nIt’s important to stay active during your pregnancy for both mom and baby! You should try to get in some sort of movement daily for at least 30 minutes. You can stick to low impact workouts or walks but if you want to do some yoga at home, it’s a great way to end your day. Yoga while pregnant can help with pain, help you sleep better and fight tiredness and fatigue. \\nHere are some poses you can practice at home to keep you moving! And as a bonus, most of these poses will also help your body prepare for giving birth!\\n1. Bound angle pose (Baddha Konasana) :\\n\\nBaddha Konasana pose will help you open your hips, releasing any pain in your back. It can also help to reduce swelling\\nHow it helps with labor: Opening the hips will help you to stretch the muscles needed to open the birth canal.\\n2. Cat-cow pose (Marjaryasana Bitilasana) :\\n\\nMarjaryasana Bitilasana pose release back and shoulder pain and also reduce pressure from the belly\\nHow it helps with labor: Back pain is a common occurrence during the birth process. This pose will help to keep your muscles limber and help to avoid muscle spasms and pain in your back during labor. \\n3. Yogi squat (Malasana) :\\n\\n\\nBeen sitting too long\\n? This is a great hip opener and will also release lower back pain. \\nHow it helps with labor: This pose will widen the pelvic floor making the birth easier,which may help to reduce injury during birth.\\nRemember, if you’re practicing at home, it’s always best to consult your doctor and make sure yoga is safe for your pregnancy.\\n\\nOther ways to practice self-care during pregnancy\\nBeing a mom is the hardest job in the world. And there are no days off. Starting with pregnancy, we feel out of control of our body, its growth and the way we feel. Remember to take time during this beautiful process to practice self-care so you can be present, happy and relaxed. \\nBook a prenatal massage :\n\n⁠⁠A prenatal massage is GREAT for mom and baby. It can help reduce stress and swelling without meds, help you to sleep and get your body ready for labor and delivery. \n⁠ \\nTake a bath :\n⁠\n⁠Taking a warm bath while pregnant can also help to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. It’s a great way to relax and rest your growing body. If you’re feeling pain or swelling, it can be very beneficial to relax in a warm bath. \n⁠\\n\\nAyurveda for Pregnancy :\\n\n⁠\n⁠This week, MyYogaTeacher has a special Ayurveda event running where you’ll learn how to align with your best self through nutrition and health changes. This specific class is designed to help you have your most healthy pregnancy with nutrition guidelines for a mom and foods to help with baby's development! \\n\nYou can also choose to work 1 on 1 with an instructor of your choice through your MyYogaTeacher membership! Let us help you have your healthiest pregnancy possible! \\n\\nGet started today!\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"cl8ka13l4ionz0ck2fe0pme7l","slug":"chronic-neck-pain-relief-yoga-poses","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Are you suffering with Chronic Neck Pain? 10 yoga poses to find relief!","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:11:15.683866+00:00","coverUrl":"rbh6duxy7hy3y207sg1c.jpg","content":{"text":"Do you suffer from chronic neck pain? Nearly 30-50% of adults suffer from recurring neck pain. \\nNeck pain can be a common occurrence for people who:\\nhave long commutes or sit at a desk all day\\nwho have issues with posture \\nwho have chronic sleep issues\\nOur neck and shoulders can also be a place where we may carry tension or pain due to stress. In any case, the good news is yoga can help you to relieve your neck pain and move on symptom free! \\nDaily changes you can make to avoid neck pain\\nStay in alignment. Keep good posture and try not to carry heavy bags on one side of your body. Also, if you sit at a desk and work on a computer, move your monitor to eye-sight so you’re not looking up or down. Need help finding your center? \\nWe can help here at MyYogaTeacher! \\n\\nStay active! It’s important to stay mobilized.  If you sit all day, take breaks to move around and give your body a break from being stuck in one position. Can’t take breaks at work? Try to go for a walk on lunch or maybe before or after your workday. \\nCheck your sleep environment. Make sure your mattress and pillows are still in good shape. Look into the best pillows for your sleep type or body. Getting quality sleep will help you avoid tossing and turning and can be your remedy to wake pain free. \\nIf you’re feeling like you need to move, starting with any slower yoga practice will help! Yin, hatha and restorative classes will all leave your body feeling relaxed, renewed and free of pain. Want to flow on your own? Here are our top ten poses to try! \\n10 Yoga Poses to relieve Chronic Neck Pain :\\n1. Easy seat with ear to shoulder stretch\\nThis pose releases your neck and shoulders and helps relieve tension and stress.\\nStart by sitting with your legs crossed and a straight back. Shoulders down. Bring your ear down to your shoulder. To deepen the stretch, bring your opposite arm overhead. \\n\\n\\n\\n2. Child’s Pose\\nReleases tension in the upper body including the neck and chest.\\nBring your knees as wide as the mat and sit into your heels. You can bring your chest to the mat and extend your arms forward or come to rest on a pillow or bolster. Try to hold this pose for up to 5 breaths. \\n\\n\\n\\n3. Downward facing dog\\nHelps to relieve neck pain by strengthening the upper body and releasing the spine. \\nStart by coming onto all fours. Check your alignment- make sure your shoulders are over your wrist, and your hips over your knees. Without changing the position of your hands and feet, push up and back to bring your heels into the ground. Relax your head, neck and shoulders down. \\n\\n\\n\\n4. Bridge Pose\\nReleases chest, neck, spine and hips.\\nLay down on your mat, bring your feet as close to your glutes as possible. Bring your hands to the sides of your body palms down. Push into the feet and hands while you lift your core and back to the ceiling. Try to relax and breathe here. \\n\\n\\n\\n5. Wide Leg forward fold\\nReleases spine, neck and back. If you’re in pain perform this stretch slowly, and come up one vertebrae at a time. \\nBring your feet as wide as you can, feet facing forward. Hinge at the hips and slowly bend forward and down towards your feet. You can hang here or grab yogi toe lock around your big toe. \\n\\n\\n\\n6. Cow face pose\\nStrengthens core and spine.\\nSit up tall and stack your knees directly over one another. Reach one arm back around your waist and one arm over your shoulder with your palms reaching towards one another. If you can, clasp your hands. If not, rest them on your back, you will still benefit from the pose. \\n\\n\\n\\n7. Sphinx pose\\nThis pose will help to physically open up the shoulders and neck. Looking side to side slowly is a great addition to the pose. \\nLie on your stomach and bring your hands next to your chest facing down. On your inhale press into the ground and lift your upper body. \\n\\n\\n\\n8. Thread the Needle \\nIncreases mobility and releases tension in the upper body. \\nCome on to all fours. Check your alignment, make sure your hips are over your knees, shoulders over your wrist. Reach one arm out to the side and thread it through the opposite side under your ribs. You can stay here or open up the opposite side by reaching the hand to the back or straight up and over. Make sure to do both sides. \\n\\n\\n\\n9. Legs up the wall\\nReleases tension and stress from the upper body by reversing blood flow. \\nFind a wall near your practice space and sit next to the wall as close as possible. Lower your head, neck and shoulders onto your mat, then roll onto your back and stretch your legs up the wall. You can stay in this restorative pose for up to 10 minutes. \\n\\n\\n\\n10. Savasana\\nSavasana releases any stress, lowers heart rate and calms the body. \\nCome onto your back on your mat, and release your body down. This is known as corpse pose because it is a full and final rest at the end of our practice. Release and let go of any and all tension. \\n\\n\\n\\nClasses to help relieve neck pain \\n\\nYoga fusion for joints \\n- This class will help you roll out your joint pain and stretch your tight limbs and joints. \\n\\nYoga for Back Pain\\n - Sometimes, neck pain can be caused by tightness in the spine. Experts say yoga helps soothe muscle pains. Try this class to strengthen and lengthen your neck and back for pain relief! \\n\\nYoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain\\n - Do you sit all day at work? Struggle with your posture? This class will help relieve upper body tension. \\n\nSo if you’re ready to make your neck pain a thing of the past, join us today. Our trial includes two free weeks of group fitness classes, one on one classes and so much more! \\nGet started on your yoga journey now!\\n"},"category":["yoga_poses"]},{"id":"cl8cuq5nnh5860biyek2vhu2w","slug":"reproductive-rights-for-women-yoga-workshop","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop - Supporting Women Through Yoga","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-22T09:28:27.679552+00:00","coverUrl":"dkjwcigamkavxe0yziwq.jpg","content":{"text":"Announcing MyYogaTeacher’s first ever Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we believe in the wisdom of women to make their own choices about their health. \\n\\nThat’s why we’re excited to offer the\\n Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop on October 2 from 9 AM - 11 AM PST (12 PM - 2 PM EST) for only $10!\\nIn the past, our community events have been free. So why are we charging a nominal fee for this one?\\nBecause ALL proceeds from the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop go to support the \\nCenter for Reproductive Rights\\n charity, a nonprofit organization, the \\nonly\\n global legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing reproductive rights.\\nIn the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade and on the day before the new term of the Supreme Court begins, we think this workshop is a perfect way to silently protest this new ruling through self-care and donations to an organization like the Center for Reproductive Rights.\\nThis will also be a time of healing and processing with a couple of awesome expert yoga instructors!\\nHow to join the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop\\nWhether you’re a member or not, \\nJust click this link and register \\nas you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\nIntroducing a very special guest yoga instructor coming just for this event!\n\\nMeet Harpinder Mann, RYT-500!\\n\\n\n\\nHarpinder is a yoga, meditation, mindfulness teacher, and decolonizing activist based in Los Angeles. She works with women of color who want to reclaim their power and intuition through the lens of a spiritual, joyful, and sustainable path. Her studies have spanned from reading the Japji Sahib since she was 3, to over 700 hours of yogic training within the traditions of Raja, Vinyasa, Kundalini, and Prenatal Yoga. \\nWe’re super excited to have her lead the beginning of the workshop. Afterwards, MyYogaTeacher yoga instructor, \\nTrupti Parikh\\n, will lead us in asanas, and a discussion session will follow.\\nAre you ready to experience a workshop where we solely focus on supporting and advocating for women’s health \\nwhile\\n improving our mental, emotional, and physical health?\\n\\nJoin us for the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\n\\nTogether, we make a difference."},"category":["workshops"]},{"id":"cl8a9804vy5de0biznpg4ai2t","slug":"yoga-benefits-for-runners","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga For Runners : Why Runners Should Incorporate Yoga Into Their Training?","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Adopting an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Read now to learn more","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-20T13:50:56.406936+00:00","coverUrl":"tbdacuzob0fuqml8dyjd.jpg","content":{"text":"Training for a big race? Setting some goals you want to crush before the year ends? No matter what your reasons, yoga can be a great way to cross train for running from a 5k to a marathon! Running is great for your heart and body but can also be a huge strain on the muscles. Having an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Let’s dive into how yoga can help!\\n1. Breathing\\nProper breathing and breath stabilization are both incredibly important principles in Yoga and Running. If you can practice proper breathing while running, you can maintain speed longer because you will take long deeper breaths to match your long strides, instead of short breaths which cause instability and speed decline.\\nPracticing Pranayama for runners - \\nAdding a pranayama breath practice before a run can help you to maintain focus as well as speed. Even if running is a release for you, and feels relaxing, Using breathwork to relax and focus can help you clearly see the physical and mental road ahead. Pranayama can also help if things are going off course on your run. If you need to regain control, you can come back to your breath and refocus. With these practices together, your run really can be a religious experience, or a way to relieve stress! \\nTo start a pranayama practice, all you need to do is focus on controlling your inhale and exhale. Start by standing tall and relaxed, or sitting tall and calm if you prefer. Close your eyes and focus inward. Start by breathing in for two and out for two. As you continue to grow your practice, you can  build up to breathing in for six and out for six. You can even play with pausing for two to four breaths in between your inhale and exhale. When you finally build a practice you’re confident with, you can start to set intentions and visualize your success. With this practice, you’ll begin to see your running dreams come true!\\n\\n2. Flexibility/Strength\\nIt would be great if in life, we only ever needed to do one thing to get to our goals. But in reality,just like we can’t have cookies for every meal, cross training for runners is essential to maintaining a long term healthy routine. While you could easily just add weight training or stretching a la cart into your week, yoga gives you more by going deeper and getting into those smaller, harder to access ligaments and tendons you might otherwise miss with strength training . Adding yoga into your running routine can reduce the risk of injury and help to maintain your goals. The more flexible your muscles are, the less likely they are to tense up or be stressed during running so you can move with more confidence and ease. Not to mention, it’s always great to look forward to a nice long stretch after a run. \\n\n3. Conditioning \\nWe all know running is GREAT for your cardiovascular health, can add years on to your life and keep your heart pumping at its best! But it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a veteran, running can make your body sore. Yoga is great for conditioning those tired and fatigued muscles without having to “take a day off” to rest. In between your runs or on conditioning days, you can take a class focused on your back or knee health, or even a class to open tight hips after a long run. There’s nothing the magic of yoga can’t do! \\n\n4. Balance/Posture\\nEven though running is a “walk in the park” compared to ballet where balance is concerned, you still need to do your best to focus on alignment while you move.\\nYoga can improve your running form by elongating the limbs so you cover more ground in less time. You'll be PR’ing in no time! Proper alignment is also important when running because as you increase your speed, the level of impact (and injury) becomes greater. Maintaining your body's alignment during movement assures you arrive at the finish line aliment free! Love a tree pose? Want to learn to fly into a warrior? Lots of yoga poses force you to balance on one leg, which helps you to build a unilateral movement practice much like the ebbs and flows you take while running. \\n5. Stress and Mental Clarity\\nFeeling stressed before a big run? Worried about your PR? Yoga can help! Focus your breathing and set an intention. You’ve got this!\\nFocus and clarity are so important when running so you can know where you’re headed and stay on track. Add your yoga practice in before training or race days and you’ll feel your worries melt away. According to scientists at \\nHarvard,\\n adding just minutes of yoga to your week can improve your outlook, slow down the body and decrease stress. You’ll find your body will be more relaxed, focused and ready to run for those goals when you release your tension with yoga. \\nGetting started:\\nSo what do you need to get started? Simple! Yourself, a mat, some water and a quiet space are all you need! Are you ready to add yoga into your running routine? \\nGet started with a two week free trial of our classes and one on one sessions!\\n\\nLet’s figure out where your yoga practice would serve you best! \\nDoing yoga BEFORE your run will help you to warm up your muscles and ligaments. By fully warming up your body before you hit the pavement, you decrease the chances of injury, help with an easier recovery and can improve your PR as you continue to train! \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice before a run :\\nHigh Lunge - This pose stretches the legs from top of the thighs down to the ankle\\n\\nWarrior II - Helps with focus and stamina. Great before heading out!\\n\\nSide angle bend - This stretch helps to stretch the side body and release any tension in the shoulders and spine. \\n\\n⁠Prefer to do yoga after your run? That’s a great option too! Yoga is great for recovery after a run! Finishing your running routine with a yoga stretch helps you to rebalance. You can stretch muscles or limbs that became tight during your run and strengthen anything  that may have become fatigued. You can also refocus and deepen your breath to reset for the next part of your day. \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice after a run :\\nButterfly Pose - a basic hip opener to ease into your stretch\\n\\nHalf Pigeon - A great pose for multiple alignments! Working through the psoas and hip flexors. Make sure to practice on both sides.\\n\\nHappy Baby - This pose is great for finishing up your hip opener extension while giving a nice massage to the back and stretching the soles of the feet.\\n\\nWant to take a class? Try some of our favorite classes for runners!\\n\\nYoga for Strength and flexibility \\n\\n\\nYoga for Knee Pain\\n\\n\\nYoga for Back health\\n\\nReady to join us for class? \\nGet started with a free trial now! \\n\\nRemember, with a great training plan for your runs, and an ongoing yoga practice you’ll be ready to run to your greatest finish line feeling and looking your best! Just like peanut butter and jelly, yoga and running are great together!"},"category":["fitness","yoga"]},{"id":"cl81n0o6wh1g80ajz2gpco553","slug":"yoga-at-home","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"How to Start Doing Yoga at Home","subTitle":"Everything you need to know for an at-home yoga routine","seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Get a beginner’s guide to starting yoga at home with tips and suggestions for setting up your own practice, including online yoga classes and private lessons.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn how to perform yoga at home with this quick and easy guide","tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-14T13:07:13.39269+00:00","coverUrl":"cqivxw3vkrcihpumlny7.jpg","content":{"text":"There are lots of reasons for doing yoga at home instead of a yoga studio, some of which include distance, busy schedules, kids, financial concerns, and health issues. The good news is you can set up your own yoga practice at home, and still get all the benefits of a regular yoga routine — without the studio. It can also be a great way to integrate yoga into your life on a regular basis, and it’s easy to do in your own home.\\nCan Anyone do Yoga at Home?\\nAnyone can perform yoga at home, and you don’t have to be an advanced yogi to try. Even beginners can practice yoga in a home environment, all you need is adequate floor space, a few (optional) pieces of equipment, and guidelines for practicing the primary yoga poses. \\nIf you’re a beginner, it’s recommended to first learn from a certified yoga instructor, so you can progress with the proper technique and alignment to avoid injury. Thanks to online learning platforms like\\n MyYogaTeacher\\n, you can still practice yoga at home with the help of a qualified teacher.\\n11 Tips on How to Perform Yoga At Home\\nThe idea of starting a yoga practice in your very own living room can seem daunting or intimidating at first, especially if you’re accustomed to attending classes in a yoga studio. But with a little bit of preparation and creativity, you can set up your own yoga space and develop a mindful yoga routine that can benefit your life.\\nHere are some suggestions to help get you started:\\n1. Make Space in Your Home for Yoga\\nIt’s easy (and fun) to make your own yoga space, and you can design it as a temporary space or a dedicated one, depending on your needs. All you need is enough floor space to move around and stretch out the full length of your body — a little more than the length and width of your yoga mat. This can be your living or bedroom floor, your kitchen, or your backyard. Just make sure there isn’t any furniture or objects lying around that could get in your way or cause injury.\\n2. Decorate With Calming Accessories\\nYou can also create a comfortable and inviting space for yoga by hanging calming or inspiring artwork on the wall, lighting a candle or incense, and keeping a few house plants nearby for a pleasing atmosphere. The more you can tailor and dedicate your space for yoga, the easier it will be to motivate yourself to keep up a steady routine. Hanging a mirror in front of your practice space is also helpful in maintaining the correct alignment while performing postures.\\n3. Be Prepared With the Right Equipment\\n\\nYou’ll want to invest in a yoga mat, and it’s wise to also keep modifying props on hand — like blocks, bolsters, blankets, and a strap. If you’re just starting out and you’d like to improvise for props, you can use pillows, blankets, and other items around the house to suit your needs. Just make sure your props are sturdy, supportive, and nearby for when you need them.\\n4. Practice Regularly\\nThe best part about practicing yoga at home is it can be done any time you want. The challenge lies in your dedication and commitment to the practice even when your couch appears more inviting.\\n \\nAccording to this study\\n, it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to create a new habit. It’s important to be patient with yourself and identify guidelines for your practice that you can realistically follow through with. \\n5. Schedule Your Yoga Session\\nSet yourself up for success by committing to your yoga practice at a certain time of day, and for a specified number of days per week. It’s best to start out easy with goals that are achievable and progress as you gain momentum. For instance, if you’ve never been an early riser, don’t expect yourself to suddenly start practicing yoga at dawn. If that’s the case, try scheduling your yoga session for late morning, afternoon or evening, and keep your existing schedule in mind when planning a time that works for you.\\n6. Keep it Simple\\nRegardless of your experience or ability level, practicing yoga at home means watching out for your own safety. Make sure you have props handy for when you need them, and avoid overdoing it with strenuous poses. When it doubt, keep your routine simple. Even if you’re an advanced yogi, those basic, primary yoga poses are still an important part of a holistic yoga practice, and may be less likely to cause injury.\\n7. Listen to Your Body\\nThe best way to avoid getting hurt while practicing yoga at home is to listen to your body. If any posture causes you discomfort or pain, stop practicing it immediately — no matter how easy or difficult the pose. Don’t push yourself too hard, and remember to focus on your alignment. If you are unsure of how to execute a specific pose, try learning it from a certified instructor before performing it on your own at home.\\n8. Take an Online Yoga Class\\n\\nBy far the best way to practice yoga at home is with an online class. This way, you get all the benefits of doing yoga at home in your own time, with the added help of an instructor who can make sure you’re performing poses safely and effectively. You can find\\n online group classes\\n for every type of yoga at\\n MyYogaTeacher\\n, with over 42 classes offered throughout the day. Private, 1-on-1 instructors are also available for at-home yoga, giving you plenty of options to get the right kind of training while still practicing in the comfort of your own home.\\n9. Squeeze in a Short Practice\\nThe beauty of an at-home yoga practice means you can squeeze in a quick session when you just have 20-30 minutes of time. Even short yoga routines are beneficial for your body and mind, and performing a few of the primary yoga poses on a daily basis will change your life for the better. Try incorporating the Sun Salutation flow series into your morning routine when you first get out of bed in the morning, or practicing some relaxing poses like Legs-Up-The-Wall or Savasana in the evening. \\n10. Switch it Up and Make it Fun\\nYoga doesn’t always have to be serious, and you can make your home yoga practice fun and spontaneous for you and your family. Practicing with your kids is a great way to help them learn mindfulness and self-awareness, while stretching and strengthening their growing bodies. You can also take your practice to the backyard to enjoy sunshine and good weather, or invite friends over to share in the experience. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!\\n11. End Every Practice With Savasana\\nWhen practicing yoga at home, it can be tempting to skip important parts of the journey due to time constraints, distractions, or disinterest. If there is one element of yoga you should never skip, it’s Savasana, or otherwise known as Corpse pose. Always end your practice with 5 minutes of relaxation to help your body integrate the routine. Keep a blanket nearby to warm your body after it has cooled down, and consider an eye pillow to help you relax. Your body and mind will thank you as you move on to the rest of your day, having given yourself the gift of healthy movement to better your life."},"category":["yoga","therapy"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"cknrms0iwi8eo0b79spx1oakp","slug":"what-is-vinyasa-yoga","author":{"name":"Pamela","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Finding Your Yoga: Is Vinyasa Yoga Right for You?","createdAt":"2021-04-21T15:48:41.654072+00:00","coverUrl":"cknrms0iwi8eo0b79spx1oakp.jpg","content":{"text":"Just like you have a pizza preference, preferred workout location, or favorite type of toothbrush, you’ll definitely figure out that not all yoga is created equal. \\n\\nYou’ll find a preference. So how do you find the type of yoga that works for you?\\n\\nThere are so many yoga words floating around. Ashtanga, hatha, Iyengar, \\nvinyasa\\n. There’s power yoga, HIIT yoga, yoga for your core, yoga for flexibility. Aaaaaaaaaaall the yogas!\\n\\nSometimes, particularly if you’re just starting your yoga journey, you need guidance.\\n\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\n\\nThen you can come try out my class, \\nGo With the Flow - Vinyasa Yoga!\\n We have a lot of fun!\\n\\nVinyasa yoga is one you probably hear a lot. It’s almost a buzzword. Especially in yoga studios and gyms!\\n\\nSo let’s talk about what it is and if it’ll be the right fit for you!\\n\\nWhat is vinyasa yoga anyway?\\n\\nA vinyasa is a smooth transition between asanas (poses). The idea of vinyasa yoga is that you glide from one pose to the next seamlessly, using your breath to guide your physical movements.\\n\\nVinyasa yoga is a practice where many asanas are performed in what is called a flow. The practice is often not the same each time and fairly unstructured, which is nice because it creates new challenges each time. Plus, no one gets bored of the same old routine!\\n\\nWhile many instructors do make sure there are modifications in a vinyasa yoga class, there are a few things you should know before trying one out.\\n\\nVinyasa yoga isn’t for everyone right away.\\n\\nWhat is your fitness level?\\n\\nI am in no way saying that if you’re unfit, you should avoid vinyasa yoga. \\n\\nHowever, if you prefer a slower, relaxed yoga practice, vinyasa yoga isn’t for you. It’s usually a pretty fast paced practice and you’ll definitely get your daily dose of cardio by doing it! So be prepared to sweat.\\n\\nAlso, if you’re not familiar with matching your breath to your movements, and controlling your breathing (when you maybe feel like you’re dying...lol), then you might want to wait on this practice. \\n\\nUnless it’s specifically labeled for beginners. Then, by all means, go for it.\\n\\n\\nAre you an experienced yogi?\\n\\nI believe anyone can do any kind of yoga practice. But why make it more difficult than it has to be?\\n\\nNot knowing the poses when you’re in a big group of yoga enthusiasts can be pretty embarrassing. Which, I might add, is a benefit of taking myYogaTeacher classes. No one can see you but your teacher! And that’s only if you want them to. \\n\\nIf you’re not very experienced in the world of yoga, I recommend practicing common vinyasa yoga poses that you’ll encounter in a vinyasa yoga class. And practice them before taking the class!\\n\\nHere are some examples of vinyasa yoga poses you should be familiar with:\\n\\nUpward facing dog.\\nDownward facing dog.\\nChaturanga.\\nWarrior 1, 2 and 3 (three separate poses).\\nPlank.\\nLow lunge.\\n\\nAnd be prepared to quickly move from one pose to the next in your vinyasa practice. Because it can be challenging.\\n\\nSpeaking of challenges.\\n\\nWhat are the goals of your practice?\\n\\nDo you want to be challenged? Do you prefer focusing on core strength and posture or overall strength and flexibility? Do you want cardio or do you want slow and steady? Weight loss? Building muscle?\\n\\nIt’s important to examine what your goals are before you begin your practice. Even day to day.\\n\\nOne day your goal may be to get in some cardio and another day your goal may be to focus on stress relief. Whatever your goal is, make sure the type of yoga you’re going to practice that day matches your needs.\\n\\nVinyasa yoga can be extremely challenging or moderately challenging. Either way it’s not the easiest form of yoga to do. The focus will almost always be on overall strength, flexibility, cardio, and synchronizing the breath with the flow of movements.\\n\\nThat’s why vinyasa yoga is excellent for weight loss! It’s easy on your joints but also a vigorous workout. I just want to make sure you’re prepared for it!\\n\\n\\n\\nSo the truth is vinyasa yoga is right for anyone and everyone who wants to give it a go. But it’s always safe to go into something new well-prepared, right?\\n\\nThere’s a difference between being challenged in your practice and being so frustrated that you want to quit after the first sun salutation. I want you to feel like you are capable and empowered in whatever type of yoga you choose! So take these questions into consideration before jumping into your first vinyasa yoga class.\\n\\n\\nYou’re always invited to try out my Go With the Flow - Vinyasa Yoga class!\\n We have a lot of fun. I promise you’ll burn calories, sweat, and be challenged. And if you get frustrated, I’m right there to help and chat about how to make the class work for you!\\n\\nNot a myYogaTeacher member yet? You should check it out! There are 35+ different classes offered daily. Group and 1:1 classes. It’s such a supportive environment to practice yoga! \\nGrab your 2-week free trial here!\\n\\n\\n\\n"}},{"id":"ckj8x24cw75fo0934a9ivozbm","slug":"yoga-for-flexibility-poses","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga for Flexibility: 8 Yoga Poses That Make You Bendy Fast!","createdAt":"2020-12-28T18:50:02.147552+00:00","coverUrl":"yoga-for-flexibility-poses-1.png","content":{"text":"If you're feeling about as flexible as a board, yoga can help! Contrary to what some people believe, you don't have to be already flexible to get started with yoga. In fact, practicing yoga regularly can help you increase flexibility and mobility. But with thousands of poses to choose from, how do you actually practice yoga for flexibility? Keep reading... we're going to teach you some great poses!\\n\\nBefore we get to our yoga poses to increase your flexibility, let's take a minute to look at why flexibility is important and explore the connection between yoga and flexibility.\\n\\nWhy Is Flexibility Important?\\nFlexibility is a key indicator of overall good physical health. Maintaining flexibility helps us in several ways:\\n\\nOver time, we can lose flexibility for any number of reasons—stress, bad posture and movements, aging. But that doesn't mean that you just have to accept this loss of flexibility and live your life without being able to tie your shoes.\\n\\nThat's where yoga comes in. Practicing yoga for flexibility can relieve tight hamstrings, calves, hips, shoulders, and more. When you participate in a yoga class or find a \\nyoga trainer online\\n, you're on your way to increasing your flexibility and your health.\\n\\nmyYogaTeacher offers several live, online yoga classes for flexibility and strength. If you want to increase your flexibility with a live yoga class from the comfort of your own home and taught by expert yoga teachers from India, \\nregister with myYogaTeacher\\n!\\n\\nThe Connection Between Yoga And Flexibility\\nAs you probably already know, yoga is more than stretching. Asanas (poses) touch major muscle groups as well as those smaller muscles that most people don't know they even have. Yoga styles like yin and restorative are excellent for deeper, longer stretches and are also effective as yoga for stress relief. You can find a live, online yin, or restorative yoga class on \\nmyYogaTeacher\\n.\\n\\nNo matter your level of flexibility, even a short yoga practice of 10–15 minutes each day will help you increase your flexibility. There's no need to rush into advanced poses or ignore props, either. Yoga isn't about nailing a pose perfectly so you can share it with your Instagram followers. It's about learning about your body, what it needs, what it pushes against, and how you can honor it. The flexibility will come in time.\\n\\n\"How much time?\" you're probably wondering.\\n\\nIt depends.\\n\\nNot the answer anyone ever wants, but flexibility depends on a number of factors like how your joints are put together, your muscle composition, your body type, and more. But the time's going to pass anyway. Why not practice yoga for flexibility?\\n\\n8 Yoga Poses to Increase Flexibility\\nIf you're practicing yoga for flexibility, consistency is key. Doing a yoga class once a month isn't going to give you the results you want. That's why we recommend signing up for \\nmyYogaTeacher\\n where you get access to live yoga classes for a monthly fee (it’s less than the drop-in fee for most in-person classes). Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, and Restorative yoga are the classes you'll want to check out to increase your flexibility.\\n\\nWant to get started right now? Here are 8 yoga poses you can use to increase your flexibility. Before practicing, you'll want to do a short warm-up (sun salutations are a great warm-up). When you're just starting out with yoga for flexibility, we recommend holding each pose for 5–10 slow, deep breaths. You can increase the number of breaths over time.\\n\\nShoulders\\nShoulders hold a lot of stress and tightness. The combination of extended periods of sitting and poor posture can lead to a lot of tension that decreases flexibility and range of motion. The \\nyoga poses\\n here are perfect for opening your shoulders, chest, and neck.\\n\\n1. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose)\\n\\nBridge pose is a great way to open through your chest and shoulders. You can modify this pose by not going up as high, not clasping your hands underneath you, or even adding a block under your sacrum for a supported bridge.\\n\\nTo do this pose:\\nLie down on your back and bend your knees with your feet on the floor.\\nOn the inhale, press into your heels and lift your hips upward, lengthening through your chest. Keep the knees pointing forward.\\nPress the hands into the floor or bring them underneath your back and interlace your fingers with your elbows pressed into the floor.\\n2. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)\\n\\nCobra pose is a small backbend that opens up the chest and improves flexibility in the shoulders.\\n\\nTo do this pose:\\nLie down on your stomach.\\nPlace your hands underneath your shoulders and press up through your hands while lifting your chest.\\nKeep your lower body grounded into the floor.\\nBack\\nLower back pain can be a result of tension, a weak core, or a number of other reasons. These poses will help you gently stretch your back and regain mobility.\\n\\n3. Marjariasana & Bitilasana (Cat-Cow Pose)\\n\\nThe cat-cow pose is technically the combination of two separate poses but they're often found together. This pose improves flexibility and mobility in the neck, shoulders, spine, and core.\\n\\nTo do this pose:\\nStart on all fours with wrists under shoulders and knees under hips. Your weight should be balanced evenly.\\nOn the inhale, let your stomach fall towards the floor as you raise your chest and chin.\\nOn the exhale, press your hands into the floor and round your spine towards the ceiling, tucking your chin into your chest.\\n4. Supta Matsyendrasana (Supine Spinal Twist)\\n\\nTwists are great for the spine! There are tons of different twisting yoga poses for flexibility but this one is perfect for relieving tightness and tension as well as improving mobility in the back.\\n\\nTo do this pose:\\nLie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the ground.\\nBring your knees to your chest, place your right hand on the outside of your left thigh.\\nDrop your legs over to the right side and use your right hand to deepen the twist as much as feels good. Be sure to keep your shoulders on the ground.\\nStretch your left arm out to the side and let your gaze fall to the left.\\nRepeat on the other side.\\nHips\\nThe hips are packed full of muscles. To get better flexibility and mobility in your hips, focus on poses that stretch the psoas, iliacus, hip flexors, quads, and glutes.\\n\\n5. \\nKapotasana\\n (Pigeon Pose)\\n\\nPigeon pose helps you deeply stretch your hip flexors as well as giving you a nice stretch across your glutes. If you have very tight hips, you can use blocks and bolsters to make yourself more comfortable.\\n\\nTo do this pose:\\nStart in Downward Facing Dog and lift your right leg into the air.\\nBring your right leg into your body center and place your foot next to your right wrist or wherever it feels right for you. Keep your right foot flexed.\\nUntuck your back toes and rest your left leg on the ground, rotated inward.\\n6. Anjaneyasana (Crescent Lunge Pose)\\n\\nCrescent lunge pose is a great pose because you can choose any number of ways to enjoy it. It's an excellent hip opener that gives you great control over how intense the stretch is.\\n\\nTo do this pose:\\nStart on your knees and bring your left leg forward, placing your left foot flat on the floor. Untuck the toes on your rear foot.\\nLift your arms overhead as you push your hips forward, sinking into your left knee.\\nSlightly arch your back and lift through your chest if that feels right for you.\\nRepeat on the other side.\\nHamstrings\\nTight hamstrings are a common complaint from those seeking out yoga for flexibility. Being tight in this area can lead to other problems like lower back pain.\\n\\n7. Paschimottanasana (Straight Legged Seated Forward Fold Pose)\\n\\nA seated forward fold is an excellent hamstring stretch. You don't have to be able to grab your feet to benefit from this stretch, either. Some people with really tight hamstrings can get a stretch from a slight lean towards the feet. You can use a yoga strap if that keeps you steady in your stretch.\\n\\nTo do this pose:\\nStart in Staff Pose with your bottom on the floor and your legs straight out in front of you.\\nLift your arms over your head and slowly fold your torso over your legs until you can reach your shins, ankles, toes, or anywhere that feels right for you and gives you a nice, not painful stretch.\\n8. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog)\\n\\nDownward-facing dog is an excellent pose for just about everything. It's commonly used as a resting or transition pose in yoga class but it's a great stretching and strengthening pose for your entire body. And it's great for increasing the flexibility in your hamstrings.\\n\\nTo do this pose:\\nStart on all fours with your feet slightly narrower than hip distances. Your toes should be tucked and your hands lined up with your shoulders.\\nOn the inhale push your hips back and up, engaging your shoulders, legs, and core. Your weight should be evenly distributed.\\nPush through your heels to feel your hamstrings stretch. Walk your feet by bending one knee at a time.\\nWrapping Up\\nNow you know 8 yoga poses that will help you improve your flexibility. When you practice yoga for flexibility consistently, you'll notice that you not only get more flexible but you'll be stronger, healthier, and have greater peace of mind. Plus, the more you work on your flexibility, the less pain and muscle tension you'll have in your body.\\n\\nThese poses are a great starting point, but if you really want to enjoy the benefits of yoga faster, you'll definitely want to register for \\nmyYogaTeacher\\n. We offer yoga for flexibility, yoga for stress relief, and so much more. And, myYogaTeacher is more than just a bunch of pre-recorded yoga videos. With us, you get access to the finest yoga teachers from India—they really become your yoga trainer online. Join us today and get started on your journey towards flexibility."}},{"id":"ckrxx06ug3syy0c74s8mg8lu2","slug":"yoga-for-peace","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Bringing Peace to Your Chaos: How Yoga Heals the World","createdAt":"2021-08-04T20:00:25.747903+00:00","coverUrl":"unizcdwt8dtqxz1k4xpm.jpg","content":{"text":"Here at myYogaTeacher, we understand the effects of all the world’s problems on people. We feel them too. And we want to help.\\nClimate change. Wildfires. A pandemic. Political unrest. Social unrest.\\nMix in work and family and all the other aspects of our lives, and you’ve got the set up for inner and outer chaos. \\nIt doesn’t have to be that way. We’re not saying yoga cures every problem, but it certainly will help bring more peace and harmony to your busy, bustling, crazy life. The more peace you bring into your life, the healthier you will become. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.\\nWe believe that yoga is a path to wellness. That’s why myYogaTeacher offers a \\nfree-2-week trial where you can explore over 35 different yoga classes\\n and many different types of yoga, all taught by expert yoga teachers from the birthplace of yoga, India.\\nYoga brings harmony to your chaos and really can heal you in ways you’d never guess possible.\\nYoga promotes physical healing\\nThere is no doubt that yoga helps people feel better physically. But do you know how or in what ways yoga can benefit you besides helping you become more flexible?\\nYoga can cure lower back pain as well as other types of joint pain.\\n The stretching of the muscles around those areas relieves tension while simultaneously strengthening them, which provides added support to sensitive joints.\\nA regular yoga practice creates a healthy spine.\\n Besides providing stretches that help lengthen and strengthen the tiny muscles around the spine, yoga also works your abdominal muscles, which are imperative for spinal support and health.\\nYoga reduces blood pressure.\\n The combination of breathwork and yoga poses releases endorphins while also helping you effectively work through stressful situations easier. Consistently lower stress levels reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels.\\nPracticing yoga can relieve symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).\\n Studies have shown that practicing yoga 2-3 times a week actually reduces testosterone levels in women, providing relief from anxiety and depression, as well as from PCOS.\\nThe therapeutic benefits of yoga help cure and prevent Type II Diabetes\\n. Science has proven that a regular yoga practice lowers fasting blood sugar, and it promotes mindful eating. It also helps with glycemic control, making diabetes medications less necessary.\\nThis is just a small list of ways yoga provides physical benefits. There are so many other ways yoga helps people feel better physically. Like helping with arthritis, depression, liver problems, obesity, and even eating disorders.\\nSpeaking of depression…\\nYoga promotes mental healing\\nDepression affects approximately 40 million Americans every year. And that number has steadily increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. \\nUnfortunately, many people don’t have access to affordable or reliable mental health care. Or they do not understand the severity of their mental health problems enough to seek out the help they need.\\nA multitude of studies back the idea that a regular yoga practice helps heal many types of mental health problems, anxiety and depression being two.\\nHere are some other ways yoga helps heal mental health issues:\\nYoga helps strengthen social attachments.\\n Humans are created for interaction. Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or a bit of both, having solid social connections to others is proven to reduce anxiety and depression.\\nA regular yoga practice helps alleviate insomnia\\n. Insomnia itself is physical, but the effects of it are mental. Lack of sleep causes brain fog, poor decision making, irritability, anxiety, and depression.\\nYoga affects mood with the release of GABA.\\n GABA is a primary mood boosting chemical in your body and helps alleviate the effects of stress, anxiety, PTSD, and many other mental health disorders.\\nThe breathwork aspect of yoga reduces stress.\\n Stressful situations surround us every day. But how we respond to stress affects our mental health. Yoga is also a practice of breathwork and developing various breathing techniques that help us manage our stress.\\nMany people underestimate the power of stress and trauma in their lives. Stress increases blood pressure, cortisol levels, suicide rates,  the likelihood of eating disorders, and sleeplessness. \\nTrauma goes unrecognized by people suffering from it and mental health practitioners every single day.\\nYoga brings healing to the world through better mental health. It’s actually an important tool used in psychotherapy. It’s also much more affordable and accessible than psychotherapy or prescription drugs. When mental health is better, emotional health follows easily behind.\\nYoga promotes emotional well-being\\nYoga is a journey. It helps us unravel who we are on a heart and soul level. Who we are underneath all the roles of husband, wife, parent, child, friend. \\nYoga brings us to a place of self-awareness, a place where we can be present in every moment. A place where we are better able to control our inner and outer responses to outside stimuli. We can’t always control the world around us, and we certainly can’t control other people’s actions. \\nA regular yoga practice helps us control and regulate our emotions.\\nOn top of that, when we practice yoga consistently, our bodies release tension in areas where we may have pain. We begin to strengthen muscles that support our frame and joints, which also alleviates pain. Since pain can cause serious emotional distress, the idea that yoga provides relief from pain and promotes emotional well-being is \\nhuge\\n.\\nYoga is an ancient practice with modern benefits. MyYogaTeacher has made it easy for you to find the perfect class for you with an instructor you feel comfortable with. On top of that, as a member, you have the opportunity to try many different classes from anywhere in the world you may be and at almost any time of day!\\nWe truly care about your health and well-being and the power of yoga to heal the world. And it’s important to us that high quality, personalized, expert yoga instruction is affordable and easily accessible to anyone who wants it or needs it.\\n\\nIf you’re not a member yet, click here to grab your 2-week free trial!\\n \\nSee you on the mat! \\nNamaste."}}],"relatedPosts":[{"id":"cl8kb5f23jq1w0ciscs2h2bxw","slug":"benefits-of-yoga-for-pregnancy","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"What are the Benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy?","createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:42:36.767798+00:00","coverUrl":"kvvlqndsbow5dsckhw7i.jpg","content":{"text":"When you get pregnant, people come out of the woodworks with advice, remedies and old wives tales. Everyone’s got an opinion on how you should spend your pregnancy. But the one thing we know for sure is, yoga is great for mom and baby alike. If you’re curious about prenatal yoga, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down why this type of yoga is excellent for moms (and babies).\\nWhat is prenatal yoga?\\nPrenatal yoga was designed for women who are expecting. Rather than taking a regular class and having to worry about modifications or safety, this class is specifically designed for pregnancy. The practice can help women with common pregnancy aches and pains, ease hormonal and emotional stress and help women’s bodies prepare for birth and their postpartum journey. A regular yoga practice when pregnant has tons of amazing benefits!\\nBenefits of Prenatal yoga: \\nWe asked women who’ve done prenatal yoga while pregnant for their reviews, one said “ It’s excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor.” And they all said they’d recommend it to friends! \\nSo let's break down the benefits: \\nRelaxation : \\nPregnancy can be very stressful! But yoga will help you to relax physically, mentally and emotionally and create a safe, relaxing environment for birth. Prenatal helps you with coping and breath techniques for all stages of your pregnancy.\n\\nPreparation for birth : \\nFor first time moms, and even sometimes vets, labor can be scary. This practice will help you to learn birth techniques so you’re relaxed and ready to go!\n⁠\\nYoga can Help with Labor : \\nIn a 2015 study\\n, It was found that a regular yoga practice in the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy can improve the mother's comfort during labor and help facilitate the labor process. The “yoga group” in this study on average was in labor two hours less than those who didn’t practice. Past your due date? Prenatal Yoga is also known to help induce labor\n⁠\\nCommunity : \\nYoga classes have always been known to help us build community but during pregnancy, it's so important to have a group of women who understand what you’re going through. Taking part in a prenatal class puts you in a group of women who get it. You’ll have a built in support system and maybe even first friends for your baby!\\nFrequently Asked Questions about Prenatal Yoga:\\nIs Yoga for Pregnancy safe?\\nYes. Yoga is generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, you should always consult your doctor & make sure you’re practicing with a teacher who understands the prenatal experience and can keep you safe. Our teachers are experts in yoga and are ready to help you on your journey. If you’d like to check out our offerings, you can get started today with a two week free trial! \\nWhen during pregnancy can you practice yoga?\\nDuring your first trimester, you can stick to your regular practice with some modifications. \\nYour second trimester is a GREAT time to start prenatal yoga! At this point, you’ll be starting to officially come into your “pregnancy body” and you’ll need to be practicing poses more specific to prenatal. The second and third trimester are considered the “prep period” for your body to prepare for labor. So it's a great time to keep moving and stretching in your new skin as you make room for the baby to grow! \\nWhat yoga poses should you avoid doing? \\nFor the most part, yoga is considered safe during pregnancy. You really only need to focus on any poses that put pressure on your abdomen. You should avoid any and all twisting poses, backbends and inversions.. \\nYoga for Pregnancy Poses you can perform at Home :\\nIt’s important to stay active during your pregnancy for both mom and baby! You should try to get in some sort of movement daily for at least 30 minutes. You can stick to low impact workouts or walks but if you want to do some yoga at home, it’s a great way to end your day. Yoga while pregnant can help with pain, help you sleep better and fight tiredness and fatigue. \\nHere are some poses you can practice at home to keep you moving! And as a bonus, most of these poses will also help your body prepare for giving birth!\\n1. Bound angle pose (Baddha Konasana) :\\n\\nBaddha Konasana pose will help you open your hips, releasing any pain in your back. It can also help to reduce swelling\\nHow it helps with labor: Opening the hips will help you to stretch the muscles needed to open the birth canal.\\n2. Cat-cow pose (Marjaryasana Bitilasana) :\\n\\nMarjaryasana Bitilasana pose release back and shoulder pain and also reduce pressure from the belly\\nHow it helps with labor: Back pain is a common occurrence during the birth process. This pose will help to keep your muscles limber and help to avoid muscle spasms and pain in your back during labor. \\n3. Yogi squat (Malasana) :\\n\\n\\nBeen sitting too long\\n? This is a great hip opener and will also release lower back pain. \\nHow it helps with labor: This pose will widen the pelvic floor making the birth easier,which may help to reduce injury during birth.\\nRemember, if you’re practicing at home, it’s always best to consult your doctor and make sure yoga is safe for your pregnancy.\\n\\nOther ways to practice self-care during pregnancy\\nBeing a mom is the hardest job in the world. And there are no days off. Starting with pregnancy, we feel out of control of our body, its growth and the way we feel. Remember to take time during this beautiful process to practice self-care so you can be present, happy and relaxed. \\nBook a prenatal massage :\n\n⁠⁠A prenatal massage is GREAT for mom and baby. It can help reduce stress and swelling without meds, help you to sleep and get your body ready for labor and delivery. \n⁠ \\nTake a bath :\n⁠\n⁠Taking a warm bath while pregnant can also help to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. It’s a great way to relax and rest your growing body. If you’re feeling pain or swelling, it can be very beneficial to relax in a warm bath. \n⁠\\n\\nAyurveda for Pregnancy :\\n\n⁠\n⁠This week, MyYogaTeacher has a special Ayurveda event running where you’ll learn how to align with your best self through nutrition and health changes. This specific class is designed to help you have your most healthy pregnancy with nutrition guidelines for a mom and foods to help with baby's development! \\n\nYou can also choose to work 1 on 1 with an instructor of your choice through your MyYogaTeacher membership! Let us help you have your healthiest pregnancy possible! \\n\\nGet started today!\\n"}},{"id":"cl74jtlu93yyq0ak0ti37gc8g","slug":"yoga-practice-for-women","author":{"name":"Divya","teacherMytSlug":"divya-1","pictureUrl":"divya-1.jpg"},"title":"The Importance of a Yoga practice for Women","createdAt":"2022-08-22T09:21:21.098639+00:00","coverUrl":"llizejqjzzeaxaxii2ey.jpg","content":{"text":"Why adding Yoga to your routine can make you feel like your most calm and confident self.\\nWe all know women have a lot on their plate. With all the things we have to get done in a day, it’s hard to remember to add taking care of ourselves to the list. We sometimes find time for a trip to the gym, a podcast episode or a quick walk between our to-do list, but the benefits of taking even 10 minutes to do yoga or a meditation can carry us through stressful days, help us sleep better or relieve pain and anxiety. Let’s break down why yoga is so important to the feminine being.\\nYoga is important for your mental health\\nA consistent yoga practice promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety and stress and can aid in mental clarity and a calm mind. Yoga is a great way to end your workday or transition from work back to your home life. If you have a high stress job, or you’re spending your day with kids, taking just five to ten minutes to breathe and stretch can put you in a clearer mindset to switch roles or tasks with ease. For example, Pranayama, the practice of focusing your breath takes only a few minutes and can help you adjust or focus your breathing, mind and heart. Pranayama is the yogic practice of focusing on breath. In Sanskrit, prana means \"vital life force\". In stressful situations, we can always come back to our breath. This is especially a great practice for women, as we tend to be a “lifesource” for our families.\\nLet’s find the right poses to ease your mind!\\nSuggested Poses for stress relief:\\nStanding Forward Fold :\\n\\nThis pose releases tension in the neck and back and is a physical and mental “letting go”\\nEasy Seat :\\n\\n Gentle hip opener, relieves physical and mental exhaustion.\\nChilds Pose : \\n\\nReleases the Nero and lymphatic systems.\\nSuggested Poses for anxiety relief:\\nHead to Knee forward bend :\\n\\nCalms the mind.\\nBridge pose : \\n\\nReduces anxiety and fatigue.\\nCamel Pose : \\n\\nBoost Energy.\\nSuggested Poses to calm the mind:\\nLegs up the wall : \\n\\nLegs up the \\nwall \\nallows your body complete relaxation.\\nCorpse Pose :\\n\\nQuiets your system and lowers your blood pressure\\nCat Pose :\\n\\nHelps to relieve stress and calm the mind.\\nYoga is important for your physical health\\nYou can find little ways to add yoga into your life every day to keep your body in tip top shape! You can add yoga to the end of your workout to lower your heart rate or choose it as a workout on “low impact” days. Believe it or not, yoga can actually take the place of strength training and cardio programs if you take the right classes! \\nMyYogaTeacher has so many options to support your active lifestyle! Yoga can improve flexibility, strength and even help with range of motion. So if you’ve got goals, we’ve got a class to fit them! \\n A normal yoga practice can keep your hormones in check and help with menopause and menstrual symptoms. Not feeling well? Tired? Yoga can also aid in normal digestion or help you maintain a healthy sleep cycle.\\nNow that you know yoga can help your physical body, let's find the right styles for you!\\nFor flexibility – If you’re trying to improve flexibility, you’re in luck! Most styles of yoga are GREAT for stretching and flexibility. If you’re looking to just stretch, we’d recommend a \\nrestorative \\nor \\nyin yoga class.\\n\\nFor Pain relief- If you’re in pain, try a focused Yin Yoga class for your injury or ailment. We have some great choices! Just use the search feature on our website! There are classes that are as specific as \\nyoga for knee pain \\nor yoga for digestion!\\nFor Strength – If you’re a warrior who loves to sweat, Vinyasa is your go to style. Try this low impact style that’s sure to raise your heart rate faster than any treadmill run. Are you a more advanced Yogi?\\n Try a Power Yoga\\n class!\\nYoga is important for your emotional wellbeing\\nMost yogis believe that yoga is a mind, body and soul practice meaning that it’s not just for fitness or for mental clarity, but it’s a life experience that can add joy and comfort to your everyday life. For most of us, the practice of yoga is what we take back to our lives long after we leave the mat.  \\nYoga can improve your energy-\\n A study done by Oxford\\n, found that a yoga practice and yoga breathing can restore your energy better than any other visualization or relaxation practice.\\nYoga helps connect the mind and body- While our mind and body are always physically connected, Yoga makes us stop, think and question that connection. It trains us to concentrate on our breath and connect our thoughts to one body part, or move at a time. Which helps us to increase focus.\\nAnd last, but certainly not least, yoga is great for socialization! Group fitness classes help us to make friends, or find friends who share our common interests or goals. Who doesn’t love taking a class with their friends? And with our site, you can take class together from the comfort of your own homes!\\nReady to fit yoga into your life? Let’s find a way to make it work for you!\\nWhen can you fit in yoga if you have a busy schedule? Unlike a traditional studio or gym, Our website makes it easy for you to fit yoga in when it works for you! Classes run live from 6am to 9pm. And you can take classes at home, on vacation or even at work on your lunch break. You can take your practice anywhere with our \\nvirtual options\\n. Don’t think you can commit to a live class? Watch your recordings later on your own time! \\nAre you a stay-at-home mom? Do you feel like you can’t get away for a workout? Do it with them! Make yoga time a part of your family’s routine to either start or end the day. We even have kid’s classes you can take together! \\nTry one today!\\n\\nNot a fan of group fitness? Maybe you prefer to workout alone or have specific goals you want to meet. Our\\n one on one option\\n is great for deepening your practice or working directly with an instructor to meet your goals on your timeline! \\nSo whichever reason speaks to you, even with all the things you have to do for your family or work, You can always make time for yoga and add more joy to your life with a yoga practice. Where there’s a will there’s a way. All you need for yoga is your body and a commitment to yourself! Make the time to start your practice today! Your body will thank you!\\n\\nReady to get started? Grab a free trial!\\n"}},{"id":"cl15mzam56v6p0civ30s56jgb","slug":"yoga-for-menopause","author":{"name":"Sarita","teacherMytSlug":"","pictureUrl":null},"title":"Yoga for Menopause : Why Menopausal Women Benefit From Yoga","createdAt":"2022-03-24T23:39:17.49117+00:00","coverUrl":"ik4av8npvdeyhe4qheep.jpg","content":{"text":"Did you know menopause yoga is a a real form of yoga? Granted, it’s not a traditional form of yoga like ashtanga, vinyasa, or yin yoga are. But it incorporates authentic, traditional yoga poses that benefit menopausal women.\\nMenopause may be a touchy subject for some of you, but here at MyYogaTeacher, we believe in being open and honest about all parts of our humanity.\\nDiscussing typically taboo topics like menopause helps women learn how to better manage their symptoms and lets them know they are not alone. \\nDuring menopause, women often seek medical treatment for their physical and psychological symptoms. But yoga for menopause symptoms offers hope for a natural remedy for many of the symptoms that you may experience during this transitional time! \\nAt MyYogaTeacher, every member is a part of a supportive community of yogis. We have students from all ages, all walks of life and who are experiencing many different phases of the human life cycle, including menopause.\\nMyYogaTeacher offers 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! And if you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\n\\nRadiance! More energy, peace of mind, and better health & fitness\\n42+ daily group yoga classes, 100% live!\\nDiscounted yoga workshops, all live and interactive!\\nMaking new like-minded friends from around the world\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial and check out your membership options here!\\n\\nLearn more below about why menopausal women benefit from a consistent yoga practice!\\n\\n\\nRestorative yoga poses alleviate hot flashes\\nNo one really knows why women have hot flashes during (and even before) menopause. But this classic symptom is recognizable by an intense surge in body temperature and increased heart rate, making women feel flushed and hot.\\nYoga for menopause shouldn’t be vigorous. Any tension in the body or tightening of the muscles can make hot flashes worse. Cooling, restorative poses such as reclining bound angle pose, child’s pose, reclining hero pose, and reclined butterfly pose are good ones to help alleviate hot flashes. \\nAdditionally, using bolsters, blankets, blocks, or other props to make your yoga practice more comfortable is encouraged!\\n\\n\\nYoga for menopause helps manage decreased hormone symptoms\\nTraditionally, the allopathic route to resolving symptoms of decreased hormone production has been hormone replacement therapy. Doctors believe that to combat menopausal symptoms, replacing decreasing hormones such as estrogen was a solid solution.\\nUnfortunately, studies have shown that hormone replacement exposes women to serious health risks. Risks like dementia, stroke, heart attacks, as well as several types of cancer.\\nWhile yoga might not directly affect estrogen production, it has certainly shown to be effective at holistically managing the symptoms that occur due to the lack of estrogen that is produced during menopause.\\nSymptoms such as irritability, insomnia, fatigue, and lack of focus can all be managed with a consistent yoga practice.\\n\\n\\nMenopausal women are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease\\nIn an \\narticle from the National Institute of Health\\n, studies show the use of yoga therapy for menopausal women decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). During menopause, women become more insulin resistent and have increased metobolic and vascular changes, all of which strongly contribute to CVD.\\nIncreasing evidence demonstrates that with proper guidance, yoga helps menopausal women reduce their risk of CVD, particularly in older adults who may have pre-existing medical conditions that make them especially prone to cardiovascular issues.\\nYoga also provides mental, physical, and emotional health benefits to this population of women that will help them live a more comfortable, happy, healthy life during and after menopause!\\n\\n\\nYoga poses for menopause\\nI guess you’re wondering what are some yoga poses you can do to help alleviate your menopausal symptoms! Let’s go over a few here to get you started.\\nYoga poses for mood swings\\nForward bend - \\nRelaxes the mind, fights depression and anxiety, calms the nervous system\\nBow pose - \\nOpens up the chest, lifts mood, and stimulates digestive organs\\nCamel pose - \\nHelps you feel safe and secure and aids in working through negative emotions\\nDownward facing dog - \\nIncreases circulation and wakes you up\\nLegs up a wall - \\nReduces fatigue and insomnia, calms the brain and relieves depression\\nYoga poses for hot flashes\\nChild’s pose - \\nCalms the heart rate, cools the body\\nReclining hero pose - \\nRelieves tight muscles that tense up when you’re uncomfortable\\nBridge pose - \\nReduces pain in back and stretches the neck and spine, improves circulation\\nReclining bound angle pose - \\nHelps create hormonal balance from overtaxed adrenal glands\\nWide leg forward bend - \\nLowers heart rate and blood pressure, cooling the body\\nYoga poses for cramps and heavy bleeding\\nSupine twist pose - \\nMassages reproductive organs, relieves tension in those areas\\nChild’s pose - \\nStretch lower back and allows lower abdominal muscles to relax\\nBow pose - \\nStretches out abdominal muscles and opens up reproductive organs\\nCobra pose - \\nStretches out abdominal muscles and puts gentle pressure on lower abdomen\\nHead to knees forward bend - \\n Relieves menstrual cramps, headache, and fatigue\\nTrying any or all of these poses each day you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms is sure to  get you feeling better quickly, but try practicing yoga therapy for menopause every day for consistent relief from the uncomfortable symptoms you may be experiencing during this transitional time in your life.\\nAnd if you need some more guidance on how to get through these transitions with more ease, grace, and comfort, I encourage you to check out the affordable 1-on-1 private online yoga classes at MyYogaTeacher! We help people just like you!\\nNot a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n!"}}],"blogContent":{"id":"ckq1glzwoe3270b76sdjnhgns","slug":"what-is-yoga-nidra","author":{"name":"My Yoga Teacher","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"What Is Yoga Nidra: Deep Relaxation to Combat Insomnia and Improve Overall Health","createdAt":"2021-06-17T22:13:09.839221+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-08-01T06:57:40.44416+00:00","coverUrl":"mizyluhduef8w9acvtqr.png","seoDescription":"What is Yoga Nidra? With this meditation, you'll find deep relaxation in the delta state that helps you heal physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.","content":{"text":"What Is Yoga Nidra?\\nYoga Nidra is a meditation that guides you to conscious awareness of your body for deep relaxation. Despite sometimes being referred to as \"yogic sleep,\" Yoga Nidra isn't about falling asleep, but instead cultivating relaxation and inner awareness that is just as restorative as deep sleep.\\n\\nWhen you mention \"yoga\" to most people, what immediately springs to mind is flowing movements requiring a certain level of balance and fitness. And that's followed closely by images of hyper-flexible people twisted into pretzel-like poses.\\n\\nBut yoga is about more than movement, physical strength, and flexibility.\\n\\nThere's a meditative aspect to yoga that often gets overlooked. And that's where Yoga Nidra comes in.\\n\\nYoga Nidra was introduced by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1976. It was presented as an easy-to-learn meditation practice that anybody from any culture could use without previous \\nknowledge of yoga\\n.\\n\\nThis practice is a guided meditation in which you rest in savasana as you move through deep relaxation techniques. The purpose of Yoga Nidra is to help the physical, emotional, and mental self completely relax and heal.\\n\\nThe practice can help with insomnia, PTSD, trauma, and anxiety, as well as improve overall health, restore energy, and promote creativity. Yoga Nidra soothes the sympathetic nervous system, leaving practitioners with a sense of peace and calm.\\n\\nHow Does Yoga Nidra Differ From Meditation?\\nWhile Yoga Nidra is a type of meditation, there are key differences. For starters, Yoga Nidra is done in savasana with the goal of reaching a deep state of conscious awareness, deeper than most meditations.\\n\\nAccording to Judi Bar, yoga therapist and yoga program manager, meditation is a waking state of consciousness, focusing the mind and letting thoughts come and go. This helps us get into the theta state. Yoga Nidra helps us get to the deeper, delta state.\\n\\nHow to Practice Yoga Nidra\\nMany yoga studios offer Yoga Nidra and you can easily do it at home for free with YouTube or a meditation app. Plus, no need to invest in any equipment. You just need a yoga mat (or even just a blanket) and something to support your lower back, spine, and head.\\n\\nYoga Nidra is best practiced in a quiet space where you'll be able to relax without being disturbed. When you're ready, dim the lights and get comfortable in savasana.\\n\\nAllow your eyes to gently close and take a few deep breaths in and out. Let your body relax completely. From there, you'll go through a progressive relaxation of your entire body, starting with your right foot. Move your attention up to your right knee, thigh, and hip. Then, repeat the process on the left leg.\\n\\nContinue this pattern of awareness and relaxation for your entire body.\\n\\nOnce you've completed this process for your entire body, allow yourself to relax completely. Stay here for as long as you'd like.\\n\\nWhen you're ready, bring awareness back to your surroundings and slowly come up to a seated position before opening your eyes.\\n\\nTo get the most from your Yoga Nidra practice, here are some tips you can use:\\nStart with an intention. Why are you practicing? What is it you're hoping for?\\nUse a sleep mask to block out light.\\nPractice where you're most comfortable. The bed? A recliner? Go for it!\\nUse a blanket to keep yourself warm.\\nStart with shorter sessions of 15–20 minutes.\\nPractice whenever it makes sense for you.\\nDon't give up! Meditation is hard. You're being asked to quiet your mind against the innumerable things competing for your attention. Go easy on yourself.\\nBenefits of Yoga Nidra\\n\\nYoga Nidra works on the autonomic nervous system. This is the system that regulates body processes like your heartbeat, breathing, blood flow, and digestion. Since it's such deep relaxation, Yoga Nidra also stimulates the pineal gland and encourages the \\nrelease of hormones\\n like melatonin. Melatonin helps manage blood pressure, cortisol levels, immune function, and is a common over-the-counter treatment for insomnia.\\n\\nPlus, while meditation is documented to \\nreduce anxiety and stress\\n, in recent studies, Yoga Nidra has been seen as even more effective in reducing anxiety, as well as being a useful tool in reducing anxiety symptoms.\\n\\nA 2020 study of Yoga Nidra found that stress affect and sleep quality saw sustained positive influence thanks to meditation. In addition, practicing Yoga Nidra consistently for just 11 minutes resulted in increased satisfaction with life, sleep quality, and mindfulness while leading to decreases in stress. For some of the study's participants, Yoga Nidra practice was reported to be particularly helpful when it came to acute stress situations (critical life events, exams, relationship problems, etc).\\n\\nHere are some other benefits of a Yoga Nidra practice:\\nConnect with yourself\\nPhysical and emotional healing\\nFlushes toxins\\nEase symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and depression\\nThere's no wrong way to practice\\nComplement Your Yoga Nidra Practice With Classes from myYogaTeacher\\nDid you know that 50–70 million adults in the United States alone have a sleep disorder? And it's a good bet that stress and anxiety play a huge role in that number! And, nearly 38% of those with sleep disorders report unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once a month.\\n\\nIf that sounds like you, Yoga Nidra can help!\\n\\nTo get the greatest benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice, it's recommended that you do some light exercise — like a yoga class — before settling in for your Yoga Nidra session.\\n\\nThat's where myYogaTeacher can be an enormous help! We offer tons of yoga classes to choose from, but our Hatha, Gentle, or Slow Vinyasa classes would be a perfect complement to your Yoga Nidra sessions. We invite you to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial\\n of myYogaTeacher. You'll get access to all of our live online group yoga classes (more than 35 each day) led by skilled and experienced Indian yoga teachers.\\n\\nClasses with myYogaTeacher can be exactly what you need to get the most benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice so you can ease anxiety, get a better connection between your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves, and get better sleep.","html":"<h2>What Is Yoga Nidra?</h2><p>Yoga Nidra is a meditation that guides you to conscious awareness of your body for deep relaxation. Despite sometimes being referred to as &quot;yogic sleep,&quot; Yoga Nidra isn&#39;t about falling asleep, but instead cultivating relaxation and inner awareness that is just as restorative as deep sleep.</p><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=width:600,height:400/iRMnWGpQ2bH15L7okdBw\" alt=\"What is Yoga Nidra?\" title=\"yoga nidra savasana.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>When you mention &quot;yoga&quot; to most people, what immediately springs to mind is flowing movements requiring a certain level of balance and fitness. And that&#39;s followed closely by images of hyper-flexible people twisted into pretzel-like poses.</p><p></p><p>But yoga is about more than movement, physical strength, and flexibility.</p><p></p><p>There&#39;s a meditative aspect to yoga that often gets overlooked. And that&#39;s where Yoga Nidra comes in.</p><p></p><p>Yoga Nidra was introduced by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1976. It was presented as an easy-to-learn meditation practice that anybody from any culture could use without previous <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-101-what-is-yoga\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-101-what-is-yoga\">knowledge of yoga</a>.</p><p></p><p>This practice is a guided meditation in which you rest in savasana as you move through deep relaxation techniques. The purpose of Yoga Nidra is to help the physical, emotional, and mental self completely relax and heal.</p><p></p><p>The practice can help with insomnia, PTSD, trauma, and anxiety, as well as improve overall health, restore energy, and promote creativity. Yoga Nidra soothes the sympathetic nervous system, leaving practitioners with a sense of peace and calm.</p><p></p><h2>How Does Yoga Nidra Differ From Meditation?</h2><p>While Yoga Nidra is a type of meditation, there are key differences. For starters, Yoga Nidra is done in savasana with the goal of reaching a deep state of conscious awareness, deeper than most meditations.</p><p></p><p>According to Judi Bar, yoga therapist and yoga program manager, meditation is a waking state of consciousness, focusing the mind and letting thoughts come and go. This helps us get into the theta state. Yoga Nidra helps us get to the deeper, delta state.</p><p></p><h2>How to Practice Yoga Nidra</h2><p>Many yoga studios offer Yoga Nidra and you can easily do it at home for free with YouTube or a meditation app. Plus, no need to invest in any equipment. You just need a yoga mat (or even just a blanket) and something to support your lower back, spine, and head.</p><p></p><p>Yoga Nidra is best practiced in a quiet space where you&#39;ll be able to relax without being disturbed. When you&#39;re ready, dim the lights and get comfortable in savasana.</p><p></p><p>Allow your eyes to gently close and take a few deep breaths in and out. Let your body relax completely. From there, you&#39;ll go through a progressive relaxation of your entire body, starting with your right foot. Move your attention up to your right knee, thigh, and hip. Then, repeat the process on the left leg.</p><p></p><p>Continue this pattern of awareness and relaxation for your entire body.</p><p></p><p>Once you&#39;ve completed this process for your entire body, allow yourself to relax completely. Stay here for as long as you&#39;d like.</p><p></p><p>When you&#39;re ready, bring awareness back to your surroundings and slowly come up to a seated position before opening your eyes.</p><p></p><p>To get the most from your Yoga Nidra practice, here are some tips you can use:</p><ul><li><div>Start with an intention. Why are you practicing? What is it you&#39;re hoping for?</div></li><li><div>Use a sleep mask to block out light.</div></li><li><div>Practice where you&#39;re most comfortable. The bed? A recliner? Go for it!</div></li><li><div>Use a blanket to keep yourself warm.</div></li><li><div>Start with shorter sessions of 15–20 minutes.</div></li><li><div>Practice whenever it makes sense for you.</div></li><li><div>Don&#39;t give up! Meditation is hard. You&#39;re being asked to quiet your mind against the innumerable things competing for your attention. Go easy on yourself.</div></li></ul><h2>Benefits of Yoga Nidra</h2><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=width:600,height:400/nNwNTYq0QWqBRkpeDtZa\" alt=\"Benefits of Yoga Nidra\" title=\"benefits of yoga nidra.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>Yoga Nidra works on the autonomic nervous system. This is the system that regulates body processes like your heartbeat, breathing, blood flow, and digestion. Since it&#39;s such deep relaxation, Yoga Nidra also stimulates the pineal gland and encourages the <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-hormonal-imbalance\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-hormonal-imbalance\">release of hormones</a> like melatonin. Melatonin helps manage blood pressure, cortisol levels, immune function, and is a common over-the-counter treatment for insomnia.</p><p></p><p>Plus, while meditation is documented to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-stress-and-anxiety\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-stress-and-anxiety\">reduce anxiety and stress</a>, in recent studies, Yoga Nidra has been seen as even more effective in reducing anxiety, as well as being a useful tool in reducing anxiety symptoms.</p><p></p><p>A 2020 study of Yoga Nidra found that stress affect and sleep quality saw sustained positive influence thanks to meditation. In addition, practicing Yoga Nidra consistently for just 11 minutes resulted in increased satisfaction with life, sleep quality, and mindfulness while leading to decreases in stress. For some of the study&#39;s participants, Yoga Nidra practice was reported to be particularly helpful when it came to acute stress situations (critical life events, exams, relationship problems, etc).</p><p></p><p>Here are some other benefits of a Yoga Nidra practice:</p><ul><li><div>Connect with yourself</div></li><li><div>Physical and emotional healing</div></li><li><div>Flushes toxins</div></li><li><div>Ease symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and depression</div></li><li><div>There&#39;s no wrong way to practice</div></li></ul><h2>Complement Your Yoga Nidra Practice With Classes from myYogaTeacher</h2><p>Did you know that 50–70 million adults in the United States alone have a sleep disorder? And it&#39;s a good bet that stress and anxiety play a huge role in that number! And, nearly 38% of those with sleep disorders report unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once a month.</p><p></p><p>If that sounds like you, Yoga Nidra can help!</p><p></p><p>To get the greatest benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice, it&#39;s recommended that you do some light exercise — like a yoga class — before settling in for your Yoga Nidra session.</p><p></p><p>That&#39;s where myYogaTeacher can be an enormous help! We offer tons of yoga classes to choose from, but our Hatha, Gentle, or Slow Vinyasa classes would be a perfect complement to your Yoga Nidra sessions. We invite you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial</a> of myYogaTeacher. You&#39;ll get access to all of our live online group yoga classes (more than 35 each day) led by skilled and experienced Indian yoga teachers.</p><p></p><p>Classes with myYogaTeacher can be exactly what you need to get the most benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice so you can ease anxiety, get a better connection between your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves, and get better sleep.</p>"},"category":["therapy","meditation"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<h2>What Is Yoga Nidra?</h2><p>Yoga Nidra is a meditation that guides you to conscious awareness of your body for deep relaxation. Despite sometimes being referred to as &quot;yogic sleep,&quot; Yoga Nidra isn&#39;t about falling asleep, but instead cultivating relaxation and inner awareness that is just as restorative as deep sleep.</p>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/resize=width:600,height:400/iRMnWGpQ2bH15L7okdBw\" \n                alt=\"What is Yoga Nidra?\"\n                title=\"What is Yoga Nidra?\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/resize=width:600,height:400/iRMnWGpQ2bH15L7okdBw\"\n                alt=\"What is Yoga Nidra?\"\n                title=\"What is Yoga Nidra?\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/resize=width:600,height:400/iRMnWGpQ2bH15L7okdBw\"\n                alt=\"What is Yoga Nidra?\"\n                title=\"What is Yoga Nidra?\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>When you mention &quot;yoga&quot; to most people, what immediately springs to mind is flowing movements requiring a certain level of balance and fitness. And that&#39;s followed closely by images of hyper-flexible people twisted into pretzel-like poses.</p><p></p><p>But yoga is about more than movement, physical strength, and flexibility.</p><p></p><p>There&#39;s a meditative aspect to yoga that often gets overlooked. And that&#39;s where Yoga Nidra comes in.</p><p></p><p>Yoga Nidra was introduced by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1976. It was presented as an easy-to-learn meditation practice that anybody from any culture could use without previous <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-101-what-is-yoga\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-101-what-is-yoga\">knowledge of yoga</a>.</p><p></p><p>This practice is a guided meditation in which you rest in savasana as you move through deep relaxation techniques. The purpose of Yoga Nidra is to help the physical, emotional, and mental self completely relax and heal.</p><p></p><p>The practice can help with insomnia, PTSD, trauma, and anxiety, as well as improve overall health, restore energy, and promote creativity. Yoga Nidra soothes the sympathetic nervous system, leaving practitioners with a sense of peace and calm.</p><p></p><h2>How Does Yoga Nidra Differ From Meditation?</h2><p>While Yoga Nidra is a type of meditation, there are key differences. For starters, Yoga Nidra is done in savasana with the goal of reaching a deep state of conscious awareness, deeper than most meditations.</p><p></p><p>According to Judi Bar, yoga therapist and yoga program manager, meditation is a waking state of consciousness, focusing the mind and letting thoughts come and go. This helps us get into the theta state. Yoga Nidra helps us get to the deeper, delta state.</p><p></p><h2>How to Practice Yoga Nidra</h2><p>Many yoga studios offer Yoga Nidra and you can easily do it at home for free with YouTube or a meditation app. Plus, no need to invest in any equipment. You just need a yoga mat (or even just a blanket) and something to support your lower back, spine, and head.</p><p></p><p>Yoga Nidra is best practiced in a quiet space where you&#39;ll be able to relax without being disturbed. When you&#39;re ready, dim the lights and get comfortable in savasana.</p><p></p><p>Allow your eyes to gently close and take a few deep breaths in and out. Let your body relax completely. From there, you&#39;ll go through a progressive relaxation of your entire body, starting with your right foot. Move your attention up to your right knee, thigh, and hip. Then, repeat the process on the left leg.</p><p></p><p>Continue this pattern of awareness and relaxation for your entire body.</p><p></p><p>Once you&#39;ve completed this process for your entire body, allow yourself to relax completely. Stay here for as long as you&#39;d like.</p><p></p><p>When you&#39;re ready, bring awareness back to your surroundings and slowly come up to a seated position before opening your eyes.</p><p></p><p>To get the most from your Yoga Nidra practice, here are some tips you can use:</p><ul><li><div>Start with an intention. Why are you practicing? What is it you&#39;re hoping for?</div></li><li><div>Use a sleep mask to block out light.</div></li><li><div>Practice where you&#39;re most comfortable. The bed? A recliner? Go for it!</div></li><li><div>Use a blanket to keep yourself warm.</div></li><li><div>Start with shorter sessions of 15–20 minutes.</div></li><li><div>Practice whenever it makes sense for you.</div></li><li><div>Don&#39;t give up! Meditation is hard. You&#39;re being asked to quiet your mind against the innumerable things competing for your attention. Go easy on yourself.</div></li></ul><h2>Benefits of Yoga Nidra</h2>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/resize=width:600,height:400/nNwNTYq0QWqBRkpeDtZa\" \n                alt=\"Benefits of Yoga Nidra\"\n                title=\"Benefits of Yoga Nidra\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/resize=width:600,height:400/nNwNTYq0QWqBRkpeDtZa\"\n                alt=\"Benefits of Yoga Nidra\"\n                title=\"Benefits of Yoga Nidra\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/resize=width:600,height:400/nNwNTYq0QWqBRkpeDtZa\"\n                alt=\"Benefits of Yoga Nidra\"\n                title=\"Benefits of Yoga Nidra\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>Yoga Nidra works on the autonomic nervous system. This is the system that regulates body processes like your heartbeat, breathing, blood flow, and digestion. Since it&#39;s such deep relaxation, Yoga Nidra also stimulates the pineal gland and encourages the <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-hormonal-imbalance\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-hormonal-imbalance\">release of hormones</a> like melatonin. Melatonin helps manage blood pressure, cortisol levels, immune function, and is a common over-the-counter treatment for insomnia.</p><p></p><p>Plus, while meditation is documented to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-stress-and-anxiety\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-stress-and-anxiety\">reduce anxiety and stress</a>, in recent studies, Yoga Nidra has been seen as even more effective in reducing anxiety, as well as being a useful tool in reducing anxiety symptoms.</p><p></p><p>A 2020 study of Yoga Nidra found that stress affect and sleep quality saw sustained positive influence thanks to meditation. In addition, practicing Yoga Nidra consistently for just 11 minutes resulted in increased satisfaction with life, sleep quality, and mindfulness while leading to decreases in stress. For some of the study&#39;s participants, Yoga Nidra practice was reported to be particularly helpful when it came to acute stress situations (critical life events, exams, relationship problems, etc).</p><p></p><p>Here are some other benefits of a Yoga Nidra practice:</p><ul><li><div>Connect with yourself</div></li><li><div>Physical and emotional healing</div></li><li><div>Flushes toxins</div></li><li><div>Ease symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and depression</div></li><li><div>There&#39;s no wrong way to practice</div></li></ul><h2>Complement Your Yoga Nidra Practice With Classes from myYogaTeacher</h2><p>Did you know that 50–70 million adults in the United States alone have a sleep disorder? And it&#39;s a good bet that stress and anxiety play a huge role in that number! And, nearly 38% of those with sleep disorders report unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once a month.</p><p></p><p>If that sounds like you, Yoga Nidra can help!</p><p></p><p>To get the greatest benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice, it&#39;s recommended that you do some light exercise — like a yoga class — before settling in for your Yoga Nidra session.</p><p></p><p>That&#39;s where myYogaTeacher can be an enormous help! We offer tons of yoga classes to choose from, but our Hatha, Gentle, or Slow Vinyasa classes would be a perfect complement to your Yoga Nidra sessions. We invite you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial</a> of myYogaTeacher. You&#39;ll get access to all of our live online group yoga classes (more than 35 each day) led by skilled and experienced Indian yoga teachers.</p><p></p><p>Classes with myYogaTeacher can be exactly what you need to get the most benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice so you can ease anxiety, get a better connection between your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves, and get better sleep.</p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"what-is-yoga-nidra","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"signup","redirectURL":"#","ctaContent":[{"id":"ckxrz2i14tov40c25g1dpicsg","name":"[CTA-DEFAULT]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz37hsu0cj0a76mgb4594m","name":"[CTA-FREECLASS]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz4d5stsye0b75dtlx1w0n","name":"[CTA-TRENDS]","description":{"html":"<p>Get ahead of the next trend and practice with authentic Indian yoga teachers! Sign up today and <strong>get 2 free private yoga sessions PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong>. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice with Authentic Indian Yoga Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz6nq0tqdr0c258titvagg","name":"[CTA-REVIEWS]","description":{"html":"<p>Find out what all the hype is about! <strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>103,478 Happy Students &amp; 12,086 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz7nzktu400b752fym6wpw","name":"[CTA-HATHA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private hatha yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(including tons of daily Hatha yoga classes). No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Hatha Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>with Authentic Indian Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cky90p88g3zgc0d23yz6taont","name":"[CTA-NASAL]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>to relieve post nasal drip and clear out your sinus. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic Indian yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Post Nasal Drip &amp; Clear Your Sinus Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyirvl8g25ce0c70cldmca2g","name":"[CTA-TRATAKA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>with experienced Trataka teachers. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Candle Gazing Meditation) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Learn Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyisqh482ck60b79rp1r1jcg","name":"[CTA-YIN]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong>, work with an experienced yoga therapist to reduce (and even eliminate) your back pain. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Yoga for Back Pain’) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Therapy – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Back Pain Safely &amp; Effectively Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitki4w2liz0b30tqpzhy4i","name":"[CTA-KRIYA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for Kriya Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation <strong>and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice Kriya, Pranayama, and Meditation Today!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitxgyg2pot0b79lu1fcpp1","name":"[CTA-BREATH]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for yogic breathing techniques (pranayama) and <strong>2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong>, like ‘Stretch and Breathe’, ‘Kriya, Pranayama, and Meditation’, and many others. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong> Learn Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Pranayama!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckykb6i2o1o7f0b368s1m7qow","name":"[CTA-LYMPHATIC]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong> for lymphatic drainage &amp; immunity enhancement. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group yoga classes</strong> (including daily yin-yoga) when you sign up today! No credit card required to sign up.</p><p></p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions –  </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>for Lymphatic Drainage &amp; Boosting Your Immune System!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl2vqlpyfe3yh0biohgxyx2hg","name":"[CTA-LEAD]","description":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl4gnwnrlga640ck37gutx7sn","name":"[CTA-GC]","description":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"}],"post":{"id":"ckq1glzwoe3270b76sdjnhgns","slug":"what-is-yoga-nidra","author":{"name":"My Yoga Teacher","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"What Is Yoga Nidra: Deep Relaxation to Combat Insomnia and Improve Overall Health","createdAt":"2021-06-17T22:13:09.839221+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-08-01T06:57:40.44416+00:00","coverUrl":"mizyluhduef8w9acvtqr.png","seoDescription":"What is Yoga Nidra? With this meditation, you'll find deep relaxation in the delta state that helps you heal physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.","content":{"text":"What Is Yoga Nidra?\\nYoga Nidra is a meditation that guides you to conscious awareness of your body for deep relaxation. Despite sometimes being referred to as \"yogic sleep,\" Yoga Nidra isn't about falling asleep, but instead cultivating relaxation and inner awareness that is just as restorative as deep sleep.\\n\\nWhen you mention \"yoga\" to most people, what immediately springs to mind is flowing movements requiring a certain level of balance and fitness. And that's followed closely by images of hyper-flexible people twisted into pretzel-like poses.\\n\\nBut yoga is about more than movement, physical strength, and flexibility.\\n\\nThere's a meditative aspect to yoga that often gets overlooked. And that's where Yoga Nidra comes in.\\n\\nYoga Nidra was introduced by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1976. It was presented as an easy-to-learn meditation practice that anybody from any culture could use without previous \\nknowledge of yoga\\n.\\n\\nThis practice is a guided meditation in which you rest in savasana as you move through deep relaxation techniques. The purpose of Yoga Nidra is to help the physical, emotional, and mental self completely relax and heal.\\n\\nThe practice can help with insomnia, PTSD, trauma, and anxiety, as well as improve overall health, restore energy, and promote creativity. Yoga Nidra soothes the sympathetic nervous system, leaving practitioners with a sense of peace and calm.\\n\\nHow Does Yoga Nidra Differ From Meditation?\\nWhile Yoga Nidra is a type of meditation, there are key differences. For starters, Yoga Nidra is done in savasana with the goal of reaching a deep state of conscious awareness, deeper than most meditations.\\n\\nAccording to Judi Bar, yoga therapist and yoga program manager, meditation is a waking state of consciousness, focusing the mind and letting thoughts come and go. This helps us get into the theta state. Yoga Nidra helps us get to the deeper, delta state.\\n\\nHow to Practice Yoga Nidra\\nMany yoga studios offer Yoga Nidra and you can easily do it at home for free with YouTube or a meditation app. Plus, no need to invest in any equipment. You just need a yoga mat (or even just a blanket) and something to support your lower back, spine, and head.\\n\\nYoga Nidra is best practiced in a quiet space where you'll be able to relax without being disturbed. When you're ready, dim the lights and get comfortable in savasana.\\n\\nAllow your eyes to gently close and take a few deep breaths in and out. Let your body relax completely. From there, you'll go through a progressive relaxation of your entire body, starting with your right foot. Move your attention up to your right knee, thigh, and hip. Then, repeat the process on the left leg.\\n\\nContinue this pattern of awareness and relaxation for your entire body.\\n\\nOnce you've completed this process for your entire body, allow yourself to relax completely. Stay here for as long as you'd like.\\n\\nWhen you're ready, bring awareness back to your surroundings and slowly come up to a seated position before opening your eyes.\\n\\nTo get the most from your Yoga Nidra practice, here are some tips you can use:\\nStart with an intention. Why are you practicing? What is it you're hoping for?\\nUse a sleep mask to block out light.\\nPractice where you're most comfortable. The bed? A recliner? Go for it!\\nUse a blanket to keep yourself warm.\\nStart with shorter sessions of 15–20 minutes.\\nPractice whenever it makes sense for you.\\nDon't give up! Meditation is hard. You're being asked to quiet your mind against the innumerable things competing for your attention. Go easy on yourself.\\nBenefits of Yoga Nidra\\n\\nYoga Nidra works on the autonomic nervous system. This is the system that regulates body processes like your heartbeat, breathing, blood flow, and digestion. Since it's such deep relaxation, Yoga Nidra also stimulates the pineal gland and encourages the \\nrelease of hormones\\n like melatonin. Melatonin helps manage blood pressure, cortisol levels, immune function, and is a common over-the-counter treatment for insomnia.\\n\\nPlus, while meditation is documented to \\nreduce anxiety and stress\\n, in recent studies, Yoga Nidra has been seen as even more effective in reducing anxiety, as well as being a useful tool in reducing anxiety symptoms.\\n\\nA 2020 study of Yoga Nidra found that stress affect and sleep quality saw sustained positive influence thanks to meditation. In addition, practicing Yoga Nidra consistently for just 11 minutes resulted in increased satisfaction with life, sleep quality, and mindfulness while leading to decreases in stress. For some of the study's participants, Yoga Nidra practice was reported to be particularly helpful when it came to acute stress situations (critical life events, exams, relationship problems, etc).\\n\\nHere are some other benefits of a Yoga Nidra practice:\\nConnect with yourself\\nPhysical and emotional healing\\nFlushes toxins\\nEase symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and depression\\nThere's no wrong way to practice\\nComplement Your Yoga Nidra Practice With Classes from myYogaTeacher\\nDid you know that 50–70 million adults in the United States alone have a sleep disorder? And it's a good bet that stress and anxiety play a huge role in that number! And, nearly 38% of those with sleep disorders report unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once a month.\\n\\nIf that sounds like you, Yoga Nidra can help!\\n\\nTo get the greatest benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice, it's recommended that you do some light exercise — like a yoga class — before settling in for your Yoga Nidra session.\\n\\nThat's where myYogaTeacher can be an enormous help! We offer tons of yoga classes to choose from, but our Hatha, Gentle, or Slow Vinyasa classes would be a perfect complement to your Yoga Nidra sessions. We invite you to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial\\n of myYogaTeacher. You'll get access to all of our live online group yoga classes (more than 35 each day) led by skilled and experienced Indian yoga teachers.\\n\\nClasses with myYogaTeacher can be exactly what you need to get the most benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice so you can ease anxiety, get a better connection between your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves, and get better sleep.","html":"<h2>What Is Yoga Nidra?</h2><p>Yoga Nidra is a meditation that guides you to conscious awareness of your body for deep relaxation. Despite sometimes being referred to as &quot;yogic sleep,&quot; Yoga Nidra isn&#39;t about falling asleep, but instead cultivating relaxation and inner awareness that is just as restorative as deep sleep.</p><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=width:600,height:400/iRMnWGpQ2bH15L7okdBw\" alt=\"What is Yoga Nidra?\" title=\"yoga nidra savasana.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>When you mention &quot;yoga&quot; to most people, what immediately springs to mind is flowing movements requiring a certain level of balance and fitness. And that&#39;s followed closely by images of hyper-flexible people twisted into pretzel-like poses.</p><p></p><p>But yoga is about more than movement, physical strength, and flexibility.</p><p></p><p>There&#39;s a meditative aspect to yoga that often gets overlooked. And that&#39;s where Yoga Nidra comes in.</p><p></p><p>Yoga Nidra was introduced by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1976. It was presented as an easy-to-learn meditation practice that anybody from any culture could use without previous <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-101-what-is-yoga\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-101-what-is-yoga\">knowledge of yoga</a>.</p><p></p><p>This practice is a guided meditation in which you rest in savasana as you move through deep relaxation techniques. The purpose of Yoga Nidra is to help the physical, emotional, and mental self completely relax and heal.</p><p></p><p>The practice can help with insomnia, PTSD, trauma, and anxiety, as well as improve overall health, restore energy, and promote creativity. Yoga Nidra soothes the sympathetic nervous system, leaving practitioners with a sense of peace and calm.</p><p></p><h2>How Does Yoga Nidra Differ From Meditation?</h2><p>While Yoga Nidra is a type of meditation, there are key differences. For starters, Yoga Nidra is done in savasana with the goal of reaching a deep state of conscious awareness, deeper than most meditations.</p><p></p><p>According to Judi Bar, yoga therapist and yoga program manager, meditation is a waking state of consciousness, focusing the mind and letting thoughts come and go. This helps us get into the theta state. Yoga Nidra helps us get to the deeper, delta state.</p><p></p><h2>How to Practice Yoga Nidra</h2><p>Many yoga studios offer Yoga Nidra and you can easily do it at home for free with YouTube or a meditation app. Plus, no need to invest in any equipment. You just need a yoga mat (or even just a blanket) and something to support your lower back, spine, and head.</p><p></p><p>Yoga Nidra is best practiced in a quiet space where you&#39;ll be able to relax without being disturbed. When you&#39;re ready, dim the lights and get comfortable in savasana.</p><p></p><p>Allow your eyes to gently close and take a few deep breaths in and out. Let your body relax completely. From there, you&#39;ll go through a progressive relaxation of your entire body, starting with your right foot. Move your attention up to your right knee, thigh, and hip. Then, repeat the process on the left leg.</p><p></p><p>Continue this pattern of awareness and relaxation for your entire body.</p><p></p><p>Once you&#39;ve completed this process for your entire body, allow yourself to relax completely. Stay here for as long as you&#39;d like.</p><p></p><p>When you&#39;re ready, bring awareness back to your surroundings and slowly come up to a seated position before opening your eyes.</p><p></p><p>To get the most from your Yoga Nidra practice, here are some tips you can use:</p><ul><li><div>Start with an intention. Why are you practicing? What is it you&#39;re hoping for?</div></li><li><div>Use a sleep mask to block out light.</div></li><li><div>Practice where you&#39;re most comfortable. The bed? A recliner? Go for it!</div></li><li><div>Use a blanket to keep yourself warm.</div></li><li><div>Start with shorter sessions of 15–20 minutes.</div></li><li><div>Practice whenever it makes sense for you.</div></li><li><div>Don&#39;t give up! Meditation is hard. You&#39;re being asked to quiet your mind against the innumerable things competing for your attention. Go easy on yourself.</div></li></ul><h2>Benefits of Yoga Nidra</h2><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=width:600,height:400/nNwNTYq0QWqBRkpeDtZa\" alt=\"Benefits of Yoga Nidra\" title=\"benefits of yoga nidra.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>Yoga Nidra works on the autonomic nervous system. This is the system that regulates body processes like your heartbeat, breathing, blood flow, and digestion. Since it&#39;s such deep relaxation, Yoga Nidra also stimulates the pineal gland and encourages the <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-hormonal-imbalance\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-hormonal-imbalance\">release of hormones</a> like melatonin. Melatonin helps manage blood pressure, cortisol levels, immune function, and is a common over-the-counter treatment for insomnia.</p><p></p><p>Plus, while meditation is documented to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-stress-and-anxiety\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-stress-and-anxiety\">reduce anxiety and stress</a>, in recent studies, Yoga Nidra has been seen as even more effective in reducing anxiety, as well as being a useful tool in reducing anxiety symptoms.</p><p></p><p>A 2020 study of Yoga Nidra found that stress affect and sleep quality saw sustained positive influence thanks to meditation. In addition, practicing Yoga Nidra consistently for just 11 minutes resulted in increased satisfaction with life, sleep quality, and mindfulness while leading to decreases in stress. For some of the study&#39;s participants, Yoga Nidra practice was reported to be particularly helpful when it came to acute stress situations (critical life events, exams, relationship problems, etc).</p><p></p><p>Here are some other benefits of a Yoga Nidra practice:</p><ul><li><div>Connect with yourself</div></li><li><div>Physical and emotional healing</div></li><li><div>Flushes toxins</div></li><li><div>Ease symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and depression</div></li><li><div>There&#39;s no wrong way to practice</div></li></ul><h2>Complement Your Yoga Nidra Practice With Classes from myYogaTeacher</h2><p>Did you know that 50–70 million adults in the United States alone have a sleep disorder? And it&#39;s a good bet that stress and anxiety play a huge role in that number! And, nearly 38% of those with sleep disorders report unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once a month.</p><p></p><p>If that sounds like you, Yoga Nidra can help!</p><p></p><p>To get the greatest benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice, it&#39;s recommended that you do some light exercise — like a yoga class — before settling in for your Yoga Nidra session.</p><p></p><p>That&#39;s where myYogaTeacher can be an enormous help! We offer tons of yoga classes to choose from, but our Hatha, Gentle, or Slow Vinyasa classes would be a perfect complement to your Yoga Nidra sessions. We invite you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial</a> of myYogaTeacher. 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