What is the most overlooked component of overall health and wellness?
Sleep!
Sleep is essential because it enables your body to repair itself so you are ready to tackle another day. An adequate amount of rest is between 7-9 hours. If you are sleeping less then 7 hours you are NOT getting enough!
Sleep has many additional benefits:
- may prevent excess weight gain
- may prevent heart disease
- decrease the duration of illnesses like the common cold or flu.
According to the National Institute of Health, 70% of American adults report that they get an insufficient amount of sleep at least one night a month. Additionally, 11% report that they get insufficient sleep every night. Statistically, that means that there are a lot of tired people, many who may be driving cars, buses or trains. That is a scary thought!
New Year, New Focus!
As the New Year is now here it is the perfect time to rethink how we do things, focus on our health, wellness, and make changes for the better.
While there is definitely no substitute for a good night’s sleep, there is a combination of meditation and yoga that comes close to offering a great night’s sleep. It’s called Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra.
Yoga Nidra
Yoga and meditation experts believe that one 30-minute practice of Yoga Nidra equates to approximately two hours of deep sleep.
Anyone can do this! You don’t need to practice yoga or twist yourself into any particular yoga pose. If you can lie down in savasana (corpse pose), then you’ve got it.
The practice of Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra is a yogic sleep and is a more meditative practice. Divine Sleep® is a guided meditation that has the power to transform, heal and rejuvenate you at core levels and it’s completely foolproof! There is absolutely no way to practice it wrong.
The first time I tried Yoga Nidra, I was skeptical but also very curious. The first time it brought me to a totally relaxed and blissful state. The practice had such a profound effect for me that I have explored the practice over the years and more recently completed a 40-hour teacher training.
In October, I was trained by the creator of Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra, Jennifer Reis. Jennifer has developed and led dynamic retreats and teacher training for over 22 years. What an exceptional experience that was for me.
Each day of the training, we began our day with a yoga class followed by a guided Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra. Each time the experience was mystical for me. I would lightly drift in and out of consciousness, knowing I was fully supported in a safe environment. I’m thrilled to teach the class myself so others can experience the same effects!
How Does Yoga Nidra Work?
There are several ways to practice Yoga Nidra, but the specific practice of Divine Sleep® takes you on a blissful journey through the five layers of the energetic body known as Koshas.
While you are in a relaxed state, you are systematically and verbally guided through body sensing, breath awareness, and guided imagery to feel the five Kosha levels that represent the physical body, the energy-breath body, the mental-emotional body, the intuition-witness body, and the bliss body.
Each Divine Sleep® begins with setting a conscious intention, called your Sankalpa. This is your heart’s deepest desire. Then you simply let go and allow for deep relaxation of the body, mind, and emotions.
Your unconscious can then open up to new ways of thinking, healing, and fulfilling your conscious intentions. Whether you want to try Divine Sleep® to help you relax and release stress, or you want to gain access to creating real positive changes in your life, the practice can help you reach your goals.
Find Transformation Within
One of the magical ways that Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra works is by switching your body out of flight or fight mode and into the rest and relaxation response.
Many of us today are in a constant state of anxiety so this practice is a perfect way to bring you back into balance which is what your body needs to be in its natural healing state. Believe it or not, your body does know what to do in order to attain and maintain, perfect health and equilibrium. Divine Sleep® is the key that can help you bring you effortlessly, compassionately, and rapidly into relaxation and health.
Gain access to the deeper levels of your true self with Divine Sleep®so that you can feel a deeper connection and help you live to your fullest potential.
Seeing and feeling are believing. I can only educate you so much about Yoga Nidra through writing about it in a blog post. The real wisdom comes from experiencing the practice for yourself.
If you wish to try this beautiful relaxing practice find your local yoga studio and ask if they offer this type of class. If you live in the South New Jersey area, I will be leading a class in January and February. Learn more here.
Support yourself and practice self-care in the new year! Join me for an evening of Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra and experience deeper levels of peace and health than you ever imagined possible. Give yourself permission to rest and restore, tapping into new sources of energy. Be supported, held, and nourished as you discover profound peace and vibrant health.
Additionally, you may find also find relaxation with a restorative yoga practice. Nine minutes are all you need! Learn more, here!
Click here for more information. https://www.gritandgracemeditation.com/events
Many thanks to our guest blogger for their contribution to Living Healthy List. Are you interested in submitting an article? Send an email with your contact information, suggested topics and an example of your work to Support@livinghealthylist.com