Yoga Nidra: Rotation of Consciousness

There are several styles of yoga nidra, but each follows a similar outline that adheres to the five layers of being (the koshas). My purpose here is to share a breakdown of the common parts that are handled similarly in most styles of yoga nidra thought.

(Note: You may want to google the koshas or you may refer to my previous blogs/newsletters for more detailed discussion of the five koshas. To make things easier for you, I have linked to the appropriate blogs within the discussion below.)

Last week we discussed the intention or sankalpa phase of yoga nidra. This, next phase, the body scan is essential to moving the consciousness toward the energetic layer making it easier for the intention to take root in your being. The body scan is the soil used to nourish the sankalpa.

The Body Scan

This week's discussion is the next phase of yoga nidra common to most styles of yogic sleep: the body scan. The body scan is a transitional phase from the physical layer (annamaya kosha) to the energy layer (pranamaya kosha). It can be the longest section in any yoga nidra practice.

By bringing awareness to the different body parts helps the mind in its transition to the next layer of consciousness: the energy layer. By bringing awareness to different body parts helps to deepen the the conscious mind. Thus, the body scan phase is sometimes called rotation of consciousness or rotation of awareness. We are moving the conscious mind inward.

The rotation means that we are moving beyond our physical waking state of consciousness toward the body's energy layer. To rotate this consciousness, we bring our awareness to the different body parts as the yoga nidra teacher states each part. In shorter yoga nidra practices, the body scan may be abbreviated but it is still an essential element of most yoga nidra practices.

Body Scan Challenges

Some practitioners find the body scan the most relaxing part of yoga nidra, while others may, at first, find it quite uncomfortable. Either way is the correct way for you at this time. Those who are at first hesitant about a body scan, find that the more they do a yoga nidra practice the more comforting the body scan becomes. This is particularly true for those who have experienced PTSD (Miller) or have had other previous discomforts in their body.

Richard Miller writes that we should feel the sensation rather try to feel the actual body part. That is, don't feel it, sense it.

He states that your mind's eye imagines that your skin is the defining boundary of your body. Rather, your body is a "field of sensation that extends beyond any boundaries." Your body is an endless continuum of radiant sensation beyond the boundaries of the mind.

Bringing awareness to the energy point in the body rather than the body part itself may make it easier for you. For those who find the body scan challenging, I agree with Miller. Focus on the energy point, rather than the body part itself.

Resources and Further Readings

Desai, K. (2017). Yoga nidra: The art of transformational sleep. Lotus Press.

Lusk, J.T. (2015). Yoga nidra for complete relaxation and stress relief. New Harbinger Publications.

Miller, Richard C.. The iRest Program for Healing PTSD: A Proven-Effective Approach to Using Yoga Nidra Meditation and Deep Relaxation Techniques to Overcome Trauma. New Harbinger Publications. Kindle Edition.

Special Yoga Nidra Offering

In honor of International Yoga Day and the June Solstice, I am offering a free yoga nidra class to all. The free class will be held next Monday night June 20, Summer Solstice Eve at 7:30 pm. The actual Summer Solstice occurs that night/early morning at 5:14 a.m. EDT. Register for this free special event here. Yes, free! (Donations are welcome.)

Next week, this class is offered in place of the usual Monday night Yoga Nidra. Tonight, the regular yoga nidra offering continues at 7:30. Please register here.

Ongoing Offerings

Yoga nidra classes continue online at 7:30 ET Monday nights. Join me tonight for a beautiful relaxing journey that will help you to heal, relax, and de-stress for an hour.

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