What is Yoga Nidra?

• Yoga Nidra is so much more than savasana, or simply guided relaxation, or guided meditation that you take in the posture of savasana.
• Yoga Nidra is sometimes referred to as "yogic sleep", which has been taken literally to mean a relaxation technique to help you sleep.
• Yoga nidra, sometime called "yogic sleep" is a term that refers to a specific brain state between theta and delta brain waves.  It is, specifically, a state of deep sleep with awareness retained.  
• When we first start practicing yoga nidra, we may indeed fall asleep.  This is common & and it's okay!
• We may practice yoga nidra for years and only briefly touch in to that deep state of yoga nidra, or state of "deep sleep with awareness" & we will still gain immeasurable benefits from our practice.  There is a natural progression to the deepening of our yoga nidra practice, and wherever you are is absolutely valuable and good.
• The potential of yoga nidra, though, is to attain this deeply relaxed but alert awareness, and in this state we can direct our consciousness toward healing and self-realization.
• In Yoga Nidra, we make use of "sankalpa", which is an intention of heart and mind, a solemn vow, resolve or determination.  The samsara is used as a tool to resolve problematic samskaras (tendencies/ habits/ beliefs), or encourage and develop positive sanskaras (tendencies/ habits beliefs)