Systems: Yoga Nidra (meditation)

Transformative practice derived from TANTRIC teaching of meditation (considered "ancient").

• Characteristics
• secular in nature
• ancient techniques of the Tantrica
• adapting to individual needs
• respecting changes in modern culture
• research proven
• standalone practice or as a complimentary supportive program

• Claims
• Decreases: 
• depression 
• anxiety 
• stress* 
• PTSD
• insomnia
• perception of chronic or acute pain*
• Increases
• ability to have restful and restorative sleep
• well-being & serenity*
• joy, vitality, purpose & meaning in life*
• interpersonal, peer and marital relationships*
• comfort in ability handling situtaion that they can not control*
• perceived control over their lives*
• ability to handle chronic issues such as PTSD, pain & stress*

*these are culture-bound affective indicators which are difficulty to define or measure with any certainty. In almost all cases, these are measurements of clients "perception" of effectiveness

• Goal: 
• To restore the body mind and senses to their natural functioning, allowing for our natural experience of interconnectedness (nondualistic goal). 
• This sense of interconnectedness in our daily lived routines allows us to welcome, explore & transcend levels of identification which uphold our perception of separation & suffering
• Moving through levels or "sheaths" of the body (koshas)
• does not entail assessment, diagnosis or treatment (same for everyone)
• Underlying principles
• We are all part of a larger energetic principle=suffering come from perception of lack of existing connection to this (purusha)
• We have a subject/object duality. we see our separate selves and other objects as separate and in opposition to our selves
• We pass through 10 stages of inquiry (not fixed) which allow us to "uncondition" the mind to remove these false perceptions
• Stages of iRest Inquiry
• Heartfelt Mission
• affirming what gives value, purpose andmeaning to your life
• Intention
• affirming vows that support actualizing our heartfelt mission
• Inner Resource
• affirming an inner sanctuary of security, resiliency, and well-being
• BodySensing
• welcoming physical sensations
• messengers
• physical senssations seen as mesengers of other deeper meanings
• awaken ability to read body's subtle cues (mindfulness)
• BreathSensing
• welcoming natural rhythmsof breathing and energy
• mindfulness
• Feelings & Emotions
• welcoming opposites of feeling emotion
• recognize rather than react to them
• Thoughts
• welcoming opposites of thoughts and beliefs
• law of opposites: pair them instead of focusing on one of the pair which is never separate
• Joy
• welcoming happiness, joy, equanimity & love
• discovering inherent joy, independent of changingstates of conciousness
• joy as good medicine (relieves stress)
• true joy: not just conditional although that may be the initial experience of joy
• Wholeness
• recognizing our unitive wholeness
• separation: relaxing into "being", our innate nature is purusha-unchanging, unconditional, and spontaneously arising.
• Integration
• integrating iRest into all aspects of daily life

YOGA NIDRA with AMRIT DESAI

YOGA NIDRA with RICHARD MILLER