Yoga Nidra Yoga Nidra means ‘yogic sleep’. It is a state of conscious deep sleep. You leave the waking state, go past the dreaming state, and enter a deep sleep, yet remain fully alert, aware and awake. It is a kind of ‘psychic sleep’ produced by a systematic method of inducing complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation, while maintaining awareness at the deeper levels. It is a prolonged suspension between wakefulness and sleep. It induces a higher state of consciousness - a wakeful state of deep introversion or an inner awareness. It is a movement of consciousness rather than a deliberate auto-suggestion. You cannot relax by trying to relax - you need to feel relaxed.  After relaxing your body and calming your mind you can plant a few intentions, sankalpas,or assertions in your subconscious before detaching your mind and experiencing the final stage of deep relaxation. There is a close relationship between the body and the brain. Various centres in the brain control modify...