A gentle guide to your first Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra means yogic sleep, though you do not actually fall asleep. It is a guided practice where you lie still and follow a voice through your body and breath, drifting into a state that sits right on the edge of sleep.

In that state, your body rests deeply while your mind stays softly aware. People often describe twenty minutes of Yoga Nidra as feeling like a long, refreshing nap. There are no poses to hold and nothing to force, which makes it one of the most welcoming practices for beginners.