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Yoga Nidra

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Yoga Nidra was written by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, published by Bihar School of Yoga and was printed in 1984 in a Hardcover binding.

284 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1976

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About the author

Satyananda Saraswati

379 books241 followers
Swami Satyananda Saraswati was a sannyasin, yoga teacher and guru in both his native India and the West. He founded the International Yoga Fellowship in 1956 and the Bihar School of Yoga in 1963. He has authored over 80 books, including the well-known Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha, recognised internationally as one of the most systematic yoga manuals today. Since its first publication by the Bihar School of yoga in 1969 it has been reprinted seventeen times and translated into many languages.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
Profile Image for Bernie Gourley.
Author 1 book114 followers
August 22, 2017
Yoga nidra literally means “yogic sleep,” and it’s a technique in which one systematically pursues a high degree of relaxation. Still, it’s a bit of a misnomer in that one doesn’t actually fall asleep. In theory, that is, most practitioners will have the experience of falling asleep at some point in practice. That’s because one is entering a hypnagogic state in which one is on the leading edge of falling asleep. It’s not always easy to stay on one side of that line (without being excessively mentally aroused.) The practice is typically done with a teacher who verbally instructs the students (live or via a recording)—because it’s quite hard to keep the sequence straight without an excessively high level of mental arousal—particularly for new practitioners.

This 8-stage practice has multiple purposes. One is simply to achieve a relaxed state. Note: it can be successfully used with individuals who suffer from insomnia, but with the notable risk that they may have trouble not falling asleep during the practice if they come to associate yoga nidra too strongly with sleeping. I know that I—who could never sleep in planes or on buses—found it useful for getting sleep when one’s mind tends toward an overly mentally aroused state. The technique is also used to tap into the subconscious. If you’ve ever noticed the strange imagery that pops up as one is going to sleep, you are witness to the subconscious at work.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part offers background on the topic. It describes both yogic and scientific explanations for the working of this practice and its sequential arrangement. The middle part describes variations on the practice, including scripts. While I mentioned that the basic approach consists of 8 stages that are sequentially arranged, there are many ways to vary the practice depending upon how much time one has and what one’s specific objective is. So the middle part describes several options including one optimized toward children (who have slightly different needs due to cognitive development.) [FYI: the eight stages are: 1.) Preparation for practice, 2.) Resolution (i.e. sankalpa), 3.) Rotation of awareness around the body systematically, 4.) Awareness of breath, 5.) Awareness of sensations /opposites, 6.) Visualization, 7.) Repeating one’s resolution, 8.) closing.] The final part delves deeper into scientific explanations of the state of yoga nidra and its health benefits.

There are four appendices that present research on yoga nidra with respect to: 1.) stress and heart disease, 2.) biofeedback, 3.) brain imaging, and 4.) altered states of consciousness. There is also a reference section arranged by topics. The book has many graphics from line drawn diagrams to color plates of brain scans (if one has a hard-copy or an e-format that supports them.)

I found this book to be extremely valuable. It’s definitely a guide book and its readability varies. It can be technical in places (but most laymen shouldn’t have a problem following it), and it can be repetitive in the middle where it’s mostly descriptions of variations on the practice. It does include stories in a few places, but is intended as a text rather than to entertain and so it’s not without some dry spots.

I’d highly recommend this book as a reference for those who teach yoga nidra. It will definitely expand upon (and help one keep straight) what one learned in teacher training and yoga nidra workshops.
Profile Image for Veronica.
21 reviews14 followers
January 15, 2022
I really love Yoga Nidra as a practice, and it was really a pleasant experience reading this book in the mornings. However, I found the medical and scientific sections explained very poorly. It worries me to read those sorts of things because it is irresponsible to mention as an afterthought that it's possible Yoga Nidra can cure cancer without the help of Doctors. People hear what they want to hear, especially when it's not explained properly and the conclusion is a very simple sentence like that. I recommend doing Yoga Nidra, but if you want to understand it more outside of practice, I would approach this book with a lot of caution.
Profile Image for Karla Kettler.
4 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2016
While the book gives lots of info about Yoga Nidra, some of the info is stated as being very important that it is done in a specific way, when I have had many Nidra experiences that were not done in the way described and I found those experiences very powerful and effective. Also, the imagery and wording of the scripts is not geared toward the western world and some imagery would be meaningless to many of us. I will say what I always say: take what works and leave the rest.
Also, it was only after I had purchased the book that I became aware of the controversy surrounding the Bihar school, the group that publishes this book. I wish I had not given any of my money to the organization. Try Richard Millers yoga Nidra book first.
Profile Image for Gabrielle Pullen.
8 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2013
This book on Yoga Nidra, is highly recommended if you are at all curious to learn more about it. First of all its fascinating, and eminently readable. Second of all its packed with science that documents the efficacy of yoga nidra.

You really get a sense of the author as human being with heart and it also gives you a sense of the full range of ways yoga nidra can be applied to deconstruct egoic attachment in a 'hypnogogic' state, so you can understand why it could be an option to do a lot of this extremely relaxing form of meditation. Each meditation can be tailored to the issues going on in your life, and the level at which you practice.

I first became interested in Yoga Nidra, because I am a feldenkrais practitioner, and as such am interested in how we learn and in the neurological underpinnings of learning. There is this amazing story in the book about how the author used yoga nidra with what we would refer to as 'kids at risk' and how it not only improved attitude, but learning in a way that went far beyond what we normally think of as possible.

Yoga Nidra is also amazing in the way that it shows us how to harness the power of our own intention so that we can change behaviors we'd rather be rid of much more gently than by using the conscious mind as a tyrant to goad ourselves into change. It's magical.

Fair Warning: after reading that book, I went and did two professional trainings with yoga scholar and psychologist, Richard Miller, to learn to teach yoga nidra myself (it may inspire you that much!) He does not refer to himself as an Enlightened Master, but when you are in his energy field, the question certainly arises in your mind what is going on here, because there is a space that expands inside you and you get a sense of the potential of experience that is less available otherwise...

Gabrielle Pullen

see Yoga Nidra by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India
Profile Image for Anna.
129 reviews
February 21, 2013
I've read this before, and will read again. This is not a book, it is a textbook and valuable reference.
Profile Image for Shakila Ataei.
17 reviews6 followers
November 7, 2022
یوگانیدرا از دو واژه سانسکریت « یوگا » به معنی اتحاد یا تمرکز آگاهی و « نیدرا » به معنی خواب اقتباس شده است و روش نیرومندی است در وانهادگی هوشیارانه. در حالت یوگانیدرا خواب وجود ندارد بلکه شخص در حالت استراحت کامل قرار می گیرد و آگاهی او در سطوح عمیق ذهن در حال عمل است. به این جهت اغلب یوگانیدرا را خواب روانی یا وانهادگی عمیق با آگاهی درونی می نامند که درآن ، فرد در آستانه بین خواب و بیداری قرار می گیرد.
Profile Image for Michelle MM.
60 reviews5 followers
June 21, 2022
A very good book on Yoga Nidra which gives more background on the practice and what it's good for. I wanted to learn more about how to set up a Nidra class and the scripts, which is explained extensively. However, there are also quite some bits on the scientific benefits of Yoga Nidra and since I wasn't looking for such a technical analysis, I flipped through it. I can definitely understand the effects it has on better sleep and less stress, however, I wouldn't rely fully on the practice in terms of disease and physical health. That said, it's a great deep dive into Nidra and I can recommend it
Profile Image for Madi.
174 reviews45 followers
November 29, 2018
I was impressed by the amount of research and scientific data in this book. It seems that Yoga Nidra can cure almost any disease, any character flaw or unhappiness in ones life. It remains to be tested on myself.

The book included a lot of Yoga Nidra transcripts, very different from each other, which are very helpful for any yoga teacher or practicioner.

The only downside is that the last third of is filled with too many anatomy and patology details. Which I find really not necessary to be so meticulosely touched. It’s the only reason for which it took me so long to finish this book.
Profile Image for Elisa Tomlinson.
671 reviews16 followers
April 4, 2023
3.5 stars. This book took me a long time to read. Maybe I am not advanced enough to understand it all. Here’s what I did understand:
Yoga nidra is the fourth stage of human consciousness (1, conscious; 2, unconscious; 3 dreaming). In yoga nidra, you are conscious of dreams and use the archetype structure of dreams to experience deep relaxation. I think it has enormous potential if it can be properly harnessed and implemented. For example, the author explains that using yoga nidra can help individuals learn a language five times faster than normal! (The trick is that you then have to review everything you “learned” once you are finished). I would have liked to learn more about this and how to implement it.
There are 7 scripts for yoga nidra in the book. These include archetypal images and directions for “rotation of consciousness” … There isn’t an explanation (unless I missed it) for why certain images are included. For example, as your mind scrolls through the images the speaker lists of, you might hear “sunset…rose opening…temple at dusk…burning body.” And I’m like WTF?!? Burning body?! I’m assuming this represents the death archetype, but that’s an assumption based on my English degree — no explanation is given and if I heard that during a yoga nidra class, it would really throw me off. I wish the author had done more by way of explanation on how to select images. I can just see myself leading a session saying, “sunset…rain cloud……. piano? …shoe?” 😂
All that to say that I wish there were more explanation of images. However, the rotation of consciousness bits were great and I’ve found myself using those when I need to calm down or detach. (Rotation of consciousness is when you focus on different parts of your body one by one).
I found the last part of the book, the part with the science, the most fascinating. There are real-life applications, yoga nidra for kids, pictures of brain scans during deep relaxation, etc. Bear in mind, however, that this is all dreadfully out of date. One of the studies is from fifty years ago. The book itself has been out of print for only a decade; surely, much has been done to discover the benefits of “waking sleep” in the time since?
All in all, I’m glad I read it! I talked to a couple of the older ladies at my yoga studio about their experiences with yoga nidra. They LOVE it and were regretful about classes being rescheduled. I suggested Yin to them and interestingly, both said Yin is too hard on their bodies. That would not have occurred to me. Having now tried yoga nidra several times, I can definitely say I join the ladies in being a fan! I’m interested in learning more about it and seeing further research…
Profile Image for Varsha Rao.
18 reviews21 followers
June 18, 2020
Thoughtfully written book where the reader is taken from the introduction of Yoga Nidra, how it came about, and why it works. The reasoning is not just at the surface level, Swamiji talks about the functioning of the brain and how the practice leverages this to induce a deep state of relaxation. The later chapters are devoted to the method itself and a number of sample instructions that one can use. The final chapters describe the process of methodical research done at various top medical institutions where the effects of Yoga Nidra are analyzed on psychosomatic diseases. And also brain scans of experienced Yoga teachers that show the level of consciousness and relaxation present at the same time.
One could argue that the sample set of the experiments was too small, or even that it can be used to attain enlightenment, but nonetheless Yoga Nidra does help in making the body and mind relaxed.
Profile Image for Marc-Henri Paradella.
Author 8 books2 followers
November 19, 2020
The founder (or at least that’s what he claims) of Yoga Nidra. Yoga Nidra is a beautiful practice, but the author doesn’t acknowledge the mix of influences he put together to build it: ancient tradition of the hindu and yoga world, modern behavioral and cognitive psychology, hypnotherapy... and his own personal insights and intuitions.
The book contains valuable scripts and practices, but shouldn’t be given the normative authority he pretends to have.
The authors overrates the positive effects one can receive from it... and believe me I love Yoga Nidra, practice it, and know how helpful and soothing it can be.
Profile Image for Beth.
367 reviews7 followers
October 7, 2022
Clear, straightforward guide to yoga nidra. Includes helpful scripts.
I should note that as a psychologist, I appreciated how yoga nidra was connected to the relaxation response, including the scientific evidence to support this. However, the "Scientific Investigations" section became a bit too speculative to me, reflecting on how the hypnogogic state could play a healing role in various medical conditions.
Profile Image for Allie Jo Arendell.
346 reviews37 followers
August 12, 2018
The practice of yoga nidra (yogic 'sleep', a form of guided meditation into the Self) these last four months has already begun to alter my patience, sincerity, and understanding of life. My mind is starting to go to those places more readily...it wants more and more of those places or the changeless aspect of our life that we continue to bury under a fast-paced, driven lifestyle.

With the practice and knowledge of yoga nidra through this Bihar School of Yoga publication, you begin to be able to teach the body, mind and soul to switch from the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) into the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). This book is so accessible and easy to read while at the same time gifting depth that goes beyond the realm of what we can experience until we start to experience....

Even if you do not have access to a yoga nidra teacher in your area, I highly recommend starting a practice from a home audio recording. I have been so very blessed to have two very gifted yoga nidra teachers these past four months that also balance their practice with sound healing. I am so thankful for them and the experience and gift of yoga nidra they have and continue to share with me.
12 reviews
July 8, 2020
I have been fascinated by yoga nidra and went to great lengths to make it a point to attend group sessions on yoga nidra. The magic it created in me made me go back to it over and again. When I got a chance to read this book, I wanted to understand what are the variations I can use in my daily life without needing external help.
I didn’t need to know about its uses because I practically received the benefits already. The book explained to me the reasons behind various instructions which I followed in the yoga nidra session. I didn’t know the requirement of why I should feel that my body is heavy and then again it is light before. Here I got to know that it is used to keep the mind alert. I didn’t know that order of rotation is important and I end up using my own convenient order. The order is important to establish pranic flow. All these days I have been scouring for methods to release energy from the suppressed feelings and here I get to know how the symbols used in yoga nidra already do the job for me.
Complete Review - http://lensq.com/index.php/2020/07/08...
Profile Image for Jason Baldauf.
238 reviews9 followers
November 17, 2021
Yoga nidra, or yogic sleep, is an ancient technique discussed in Vedic scripture. The version presented in this book is from the Bihar School of Yoga, and was developed by Satyananda Saraswati in the 60's. The purpose is to reduce stress, by utilizing guided meditation in shavasana to gradually relax various body parts and enter a hypnagogic state. Meticulous detail is taken to describe the benefits resulting from regular practice. These include what you would expect such as lower blood pressure and less fatigue, but it's taken further by using life changing affirmations (sankalpas). The idea being that one is more susceptible to suggestion while in the alpha brainwave state. The biggest issue with the book is how to utilize the guided meditation unless you have a partner willing to read, or to sign up for a class at the Bihar school. That being said, a search on YouTube results in tons of guided yoga nidra meditations. That could be hit or miss. If it's of interest to you it's worth the read, or you could try one of the video on YouTube and see if it works for you.
9 reviews
November 6, 2023
Ho letto il libro dopo aver frequentato il corso insegnanti di yoga per un anno, durante il quale abbiamo affrontato diversi temi oltre alle semplici asana.
Credo che questo libro sia un ottimo spunto per tutti gli insegnanti che durante le loro lezioni vogliono introdurre la pratica di yoga nidra.
Spiega molto bene i punti chiave da sviluppare per guidare la pratica portando numerosi esempi pratici da usare direttamente o come spunto.
L'insegnante con cui pratico lo fa sempre al termine delle pratiche e gli effetti di rilassamento sono tangibili fin da subito.
L'idea di fare stare bene le persone con la sola voce è un aspetto intrigante.
Profile Image for Virginie.
225 reviews5 followers
September 15, 2017
"Dans la vie courante, la plupart des gens ne sont pas à l'écoute, mais en yoga nidra, le mental passe par une phase de réceptivité intense. on peut comparer cette étape à la fonte du fer qu'on veut couler dans un moule particulier.
Dans la séance de yoga nidra, vient le passage où le mental fond : à ce moment précis, on le charge d'excellentes impressions créatrices. La réceptivité mentale s'éveille lorsque les dissipations sont annulées et l'opération se fait par modification de la structure émotionnelle"
Profile Image for Carol.
610 reviews
April 18, 2018
What is yoga nidra, how do you do yoga nidra, where do you do yoga nidra, when do you do yoga nidra? This book answers all of those questions in a very easy to understand and appreciate format. In addition, it provides documented support of the benefits of yoga nidra. I have never been one to read the attached appendices of many books, but read all of the extra material included in this book. AND downloaded an app that gives me 10, 20 and 30 minute yoga nidra options; I have done the free 10 minute yoga nidra often, and am loving the 30 minutes.
Profile Image for Nital Jethalal.
53 reviews
March 27, 2019
Ever wonder how some people have more energy than the rest of us on far less sleep? Yoga nidra.

I was aware of the power of the mind in the delta state and deep, dreamless sleep, but never thought about the easily accessible awareness techniques we can apply to achieve the same incredible ROI on our rest/sleep before being introduced to Yoga Nidra. To that end, this simple book was very insightful. And the technique works. :)
Profile Image for Judith Boggess.
Author 2 books
April 10, 2018
Although you get instructions on how to do Yoga Nidra, it is recommended that you have an instructor take you through the relaxation process. Wouldn't say it was very helpful. It says you can make a tape recording of the instructions and play it back to yourself, if you still own a tape recorder and some cassettes.
28 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2019
I love love love yoga but this was just too true to the original early early day aspects of yoga for me. It is true to the founding yoga teachings and definitely adds a strong religious aspect to the practice. I found it distracting and much too dense . I eventually gave up on trying to read it.
Profile Image for Lenka Kubelová.
20 reviews3 followers
October 30, 2017
Source text on meditation technique Yoga Nidra. Not always easy to read, but any other book on this topic derives from this one. Very interesting method. Part of the book are texts of actual meditations.
Profile Image for Marina.
302 reviews4 followers
February 12, 2020
This is a great, practical introduction to the practice of Yoga Nidra! I appreciated the clear explanations of theory and the inclusion of the relevant scientific studies that are beginning on this spiritual practice. It definitely helps to have an understanding of the spiritual foundations of yoga when reading this textbook. I can't wait to practice and learn more!
Profile Image for Johanna DeBiase.
Author 6 books33 followers
October 2, 2021
A traditional text with loads of information about yoga nidra, including scientific research. Includes a variety of scripts too. Great for beginners who want to learn a traditional Indian method of yoga nidra.
Profile Image for Vineeta.
225 reviews6 followers
May 21, 2024
It is an eye opening book. The secret of Yoga Nidra and its capacity to treat almost every disease is unknown to most of us. If everyone does it on daily basis, health of this planet's habitants would we transformed. Such a free of cost treatment for today's complicated diseases !
Profile Image for Carolyn Drought-Leblang.
32 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2024
Incredible resource for all yoga teachers and enthusiasts. An in-depth explanation of the practice of Yoga Nidra, practice examples and scientific research supporting the effectiveness of the practice to support the treatment of a variety of psychological and physiological ailments.
43 reviews
September 19, 2025
perfect book to gain an extra level of awareness around the state of sleeping.

now my naps are forever changed,
the hazy prenap period is filled with more awareness,

book itself is more a technical manual for actual nidra meditation sessions you have to practice.

but im lazy.
Profile Image for Li.
24 reviews
December 3, 2017
useful, but dry. mildly disappointing account of one of my favorite practices.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews

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