13 AGO 2026 · Yoga Nidra (Deep Relaxation Meditation)
Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation practice for deep physical relaxation while the mind remains awake, aware, and focused. It is a structured relaxation and meditation practice in which the practitioner remains physically still and follows the teacher’s voice. The attention is gradually directed away from external stimuli and towards bodily sensations, breathing, intentions, and visualisation.The practice aims to create deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation while supporting greater self-awareness and inner transformation.
The main purposes of Yoga Nidra are to:
- Fully relax the body
- Remain mentally alert and aware while the body relaxes
- Turn attention inward and withdraw from external stimuli
- Release physical and emotional tension
- Create space for observing thoughts, feelings, and sensations without reacting to them
- Replace unhelpful patterns, such as chronic tension or emotional habits, with healthier ones
- Connect with and reinforce a personal intention, known as a Sankalpa
Yoga Nidra may provide a range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It can:
- Release deep physical tension
- Promote relaxation and a greater sense of physical well-being
- Support circulation, oxygen flow, and energy
- Reduce feelings of anxiety and emotional distress
- Support people experiencing depression and cravings as part of a broader approach to well-being
- Improve sleep quality
- Support emotional healing and processing
- Build clarity, calmness, and self-awareness
- Reinforce positive behavioural and habit changes through the Sankalpa
- Help the practitioner develop a greater awareness of bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions
- Provide a strong sense of rest and rejuvenation
The practitioner is expected to:
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- Lie completely still throughout the practice
- Follow the teacher’s voice and instructions
- Remain awake and focused rather than intentionally falling asleep
- Direct attention inward and observe bodily sensations
- Observe sensations, thoughts, and feelings without reacting to them
- Repeat the chosen intention clearly and with intent
- Engage with the guided visualizations and use their imagination
- Allow the body to relax fully without forcing or controlling the experience
- Gradually return their awareness to the body and surroundings at the end of the practice The podcast is a part of the Erasmus+ KA2 strategic partnership project. The official website of the project can be found here: https://eycb.eu/mind/
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.