7/27/2019 States of Yoga Nidra
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completeyoga.co.za
http://completeyoga.co.za/2010/11/states-of-yoga-nidra
States of Yoga Nidra
In studying the subject of yoga-nidra we need to be clear as to
whichstate or level of yoga-nidra we are (1) discussing, (2)
scientificallyexperimenting, (3) personally practising.
State One: A state of deep relaxation. Very commonly these days
theterm yoga-nidra is used for the processes/exercises preparatory
to yoga-nidra. These are often also being taught by many teachers
in afragmentary manner.
There are many different such preparations in complete sets,
eachexercise fitting at a certain place in the sequence in the
set.
During these practices the brain produces alpha waves which in
higherexercises then verge on theta.
These higher exercises may also be used for self-healing.
State Two: An interim state between One and Three. Used for
creativity, invention, receiving decisions andsolutions to
problems, composing lectures and research papers and poetry and
constitutions or minutelydetailed action plans and such other
purposes. Here the brain produces theta sometimes verging onto
delta.
State Three: The preparations taught in State One lead to the
true yoga-nidra, entry into abhava-pratyaya,cognition of negation
(Yoga-sutra 1.10) in a cave in the heart centre.
This may require an advanced teacher initially leading the
aspirant into this depth. Swami Rama of theHimalayas recommends
that one not remain in this state more then ten minutes at a
time.
During this state the brain may initially produce theta and
then, in depth, go into delta waves. Here the yogiis in deep
non-REM sleep, so far as the brain wave activity shows, but is
aware of his surroundings.
State Four : This is not limited to a ten minute experience. It
is the kind of sleep that yogis sleep even up tothree and half
hours. Here the mind simultaneously remains at two levels: (I) One
layer of the mind in sleepin the ordinary sense of the word, and
(II) a deeper layer of the mind remaining in conscious a-japa japa
andmeditation which, here, is awareness of the person-wide
awareness of kundalini. Some yogis take half oftheir sleep in the
common sense of the word and the other half in this level of
yoga-nidra. Here one mayalternate between theta and delta.
One who practices such sleep may remain looking younger than
his/her years.
Only when the Sates One and Three are fully mastered, one will
learn to glide into the State Four.
Turiya : When States Three and Four have been mastered, one is
at the gates ofturiya (pureconsciousness) and may slide into it.
Then, not earlier, yoga-nidra becomes turiya, the two
becomingindistinguishable; brain waves become a flat rate.
By Swami Veda Bharati
http://completeyoga.co.za/2010/11/states-of-yoga-nidra
