YOGA NIDRA

by Richard Miller

Adecuado tanto para principiantes como para practicantes avanzados, pero nuevo para la mayoría de los occidentales, el yoga nidra ofrece una manera incomparable de experimentar la culminación del arte del yoga, y acceder a las recompensas físicas, emocionales y espirituales más profundas que su práctica nos aporta.
En este libro y en el audio vinculado a él (meditaciones guiadas disponibles online), Richard Miller comparte con nosotros los pasos básicos de esta disciplina, adónde conduce cada paso, y qué beneficios podemos obtener durante el proceso.
Como mínimo, el yoga nidra te llevará a experimentar una relajación profunda, a liberarte del estrés crónico, a disfrutar de un sueño reparador, a resolver muchos de los rompecabezas de tu vida, y a experimentar una mayor sensación de armonía en tu existencia diaria y tus relaciones. Como aportación final, te permitirá descubrir tu verdadera naturaleza; la paz que está más allá de toda descripción y que te pertenece por derecho de nacimiento.
Esta paz no es una promesa vacía o algo reservado a unos pocos elegidos. Esta paz está presente y disponible para ti en este momento.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Meditation, Self Help, Health, Psychology

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2005

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Warning: long and technical review)

I finished reading Richard Miller's book about yoga nidra last weekend while camping in southern Utah. I'd put the book aside because Miller delves into the concept of non-dualism and my brain wasn't able to wrap itself around such deep thinking at the time. I decided to pick it back up when I was in the backcountry, away from the concerns and distractions of daily life, and I'm glad I did.

Miller sees yoga nidra as a process for learning how to listen and welcome all that we are and all that life is, rather than just another strategy for self improvement. It's a process we engage in to heal from misperception, anxiety, and fear, into equanimity, stability, and love. Miller outlines a yoga nidra protocol that allows for this opening of awareness to occur. In summary, his protocol goes like this:

Assert an intention to give the practice your wholehearted attention (this sets the stage for your mind to remain focused and undistracted throughout the practice).

Locate heartfelt prayers that you hold about loved ones or yourself, stated in the present tense ("I am whole and healthy" as opposed to "I will be whole and healthy"). Once your prayers are acknowledged, you set them aside to be revisited at the end of the practice when you are in the state of complete openness and can experience your prayers as present-moment realities.

He then guides us through the koshas (sheaths).

A) Sensing the physical body

B) Awareness of breath and energy

C) Awareness of feelings & emotions

D) Awareness of thoughts, beliefs and images

E) Awareness of the body of joy

F) Awareness of the witness of ego-I

G) Awareness of changeless being

Miller's seven stages of yoga nidra help us take off and step away from each sheath or body of identification, the "outerwear of body, mind, and senses that we had misperceived as True Nature". Once there, we can touch into the truth of who we really are and we realize that every situation is paired with its perfect response of right action. "As we walk back through the sheaths, putting each sheath of identification back on, we no longer need to confuse who we are with these clothes that we are wearing made of body, mind, and senses." (p.77)

This is just a brief summary of Miller's book and his protocol for yoga nidra. His work is deep and expansive and it resonates with me deeply. I've experienced glimpses of what he writes about. Just this week, I was in the twilight state between waking and sleeping, and an insight came to me. It was something that I needed in order to solve a problem, but in my fully wakened state, I'd been too triggered emotionally to see a solution. In this twilight (yoga nidra) state, I wasn't attached to these emotions (monomaya kosha). Shedding the sheath of feeling and emotion allowed me to touch into the truth of who I really am, and right action became evident.

Namaste 🙏

[Allie Jo Arendell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second read-through of Richard Miller's introduction to Yoga Nidra in preparation for the upcoming iRest immersion in Kailua, HI this next month. It provides a wonderfully simple background and practice for the state of consciousness of we call Presence...I do enjoy and recommend his other resources, practices, research studies and website for a more in depth study, but this book is great for beginners!

"Trees, people, animals, mountains, planets, and stars appear different, but their source is ultimately one...."

"When subject and object dissolve, one into the other, only timeless Presence remains. Witnessing without a witness. Welcoming without a welcomer. Doing with a doer. No separation, anywhere."

Welcome yourself/myself/himself/herself to the wonderful world of Yoga Nidra...!

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Addendum: as with so many other “spiritual leaders, Miller has been exposed as a sexual predator. That behavior is always heinous, but particularly so when one’s professed expertise is leading people into highly vulnerable states.
Steer clear.


prerequisite reading for Total Yoga Nidra with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli next month
Not a good place to start for those unfamiliar with yoga nidra.
the practice takes time to evolve and he jumps into the deep end with both feet and no floatie.
For those of us with a history with yoga nidra, we don't need the "gee whiz yoga nidra fixes EVERYTHING" hard sell.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Good book I don't understand why this review has tyo be so may words in length? Why not take me at my word and accept that finished the book and that is saying that it was goid enough to complete. I gave it five stars for God's sake, does this not confirm and or perfect what I thought the book merited ? I have enough on my plate and here you are rejecting a three word review: it is good.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out very slow but by the end I loved it. It could have another title “How to Just Be.” I read the Kindle version and so was very frustrated that the author keeps referring to the CD that comes with the other versions. If you are going to buy this book make sure you also get the CD so you can do the practices along with the book.

[Deb Sawdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mainly practice Kriya Yoga (as brought to the West by Paramhansa Yogananda). However, yoga has many branches and I respect and love each tradition.

Yoga Nidra is profoundly healing, especially for trauma and the emotional body, but can also bring about much healing for the spiritual, mental and physical bodies.

It's absolutely worth your time.

[Phil Calandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoga Nidra is a compelling practice that enables the practitioner to access that Inner Reality and infinite spaciousness that is stable, steady and forever present. We suffer because of our attachments to life are impermanent, unstable and fleeting. We are fooled by our contrived ego that these attachments will make us happy but eventually will lead to our suffering. During this practice of Yoga Nidra, you intentionally enter a state that approximates sleep; however, you are dreaming but at the same time are completely awake. This is a compelling and unique practice achieving a deep calm, lessoning of anxiety and other benefits. However, it does appear that professional guidance is needed to maximize benefits.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very complete little book about yoga nidra. At times what the author was saying was very clear to me and other times I had difficulty grasping it. I think, perhaps, the author assumes that the reader is already well along the path to understanding the big picture of yoga nidra. Without my background as a yoga teacher, I know I would have been lost in some parts of the book. However, I did enjoy it and am excited to work with this practice. I have already seen a huge shift in my outlook on life and my ability to remain in a state of "contentment" while drama is raging around me.

[Delaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gets a 3, the accompanying CD raises the rating to a 4. I found the text to be very philosophical and full of tautologies. For such an embodied practice, the discussion is highly intellectualized. I’m going to try reading Chapter 2: The Practice of Yoga Nidra section by section alongside the corresponding audio sections and see what that yields.

[Robyn Lyons]

It is the first relaxation practice that welcomes things just as they are. Don’t have to make anything happen, change anything- just observe your body’s sensations in a safe place that you imagined or that you remember from your own life experience. And then you work with opposites - hot and cold, tight and relaxed, anger and peace. It is fantastic.

[Tim Derry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Miller explains clearly and completely how the practice of Yoga Nidra can have a profound effect on one's health and wellbeing. This book helps take that practice to an even deeper level of awareness and the connection with all.

[Siska · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very popular approach to yoga nidra, but worth trying. Richard Miller has very soothing voice.

[Corinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good. I wish it had included some written practices

[Knit Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Très bon basique pour une introduction au Yoga Nidra.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago but wanted to come here and review it! It is so well worth a read. Yoga nidra is an incredible practice.

[Leti Alvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to read and understand. Nice progressive steps and stages going through the Pancha Maya Kosha Model and helping us realize we are all part of everything and we are vast spaciousness.

[Marlo Keenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. Its an easy ready and really explains the heart of Yoga Nidra. Im going to read it again:)

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miller's knowledge is very deep but i think private lessons are needed to experience the power of this practice

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't listened to the CD yet, so I may update this review. I ended up getting this book because I saw an issue of Yoga Journal that talked about dealing with anxiety, so I bought it, and Yoga Nidra was mentioned, with this book (and maybe one or two others) recommended. I haven't added this to my practice yet, but I hope to soon. I could definitely use it. It's definitely pretty interesting.

[Jobie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I erred on the low side. It's not as low as average but as a teacher it didn't give me the practicalities that I need to begin to start using yoga nidra in my classes.

If you are loooking for a book to help you begin a personal practice of yoga nidra this is spot on. The CD is great and there are links to download a few more yoga nidra practices.

[Elizabeth7781 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My yoga instructor has quoted from this book the first two weeks of yoga class. Each time, I wanted to tell her - "slow down! Let us absorb these thoughts. It is a lot to take in." I was delighted when my brother gifted me with the book this week.

[Amanda]

The bulk of the book are 5 yoga themes: transcendence, crea...tion, love for all beings, tantra and service. I like the poetry collection a lot and I really found their savasanas for each section to be amazing. I'll definitely be using this book in my classes.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoga Nidra is a form of meditation that you do in stillness, not the poses that usually come to mind with the word yoga. Reading Eastern philosophy late at night was a bit mind bending, but I like Yoga Nidra's focus on acceptance and look forward to practicing with the CD.

[T. Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most powerfully life changing practices I have ever done. Yoga Nidra is a practice in which you put your body into a "sleep" state and work on deep emotional issues and / or truamatic experiences and / or limiting beliefs. Must be experienced to understand.

[Vinita Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Meditation technique that I still use. Teaches you to focus on your breathing, or on on particular part of your body at a time, which in turn clears your mind of thoughts. I got the book and the CD that came with it with the guided mediation. Love it!

[Georgiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of the claims seem pretty far out there. Hoping the CD is a bit less woo-woo....

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for calming the mind and body and being okay with whatever state I am in. I particularly like the balancing of opposites, noticing how thoughts affect the body.

[Jennifer Louden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can't do justice to Richard's work but it's a good enough place to start!

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth every penny. Clear method, nice voice, great practice.

[Mindy Shulfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a much better understanding of what Yoga Nidra is after reading Richard's book and practicing with the enclosed CD. This system allows the true practice of yoga to shine through.