Finally! Yoga I Can Do!
While I've made great strides these past two years fighting Hashimoto's, I still needed to catch up to where I want to be healthwise. I began researching other doctors to get another opinion and found a chiropractor in town who also has Hashimoto's. A few weeks ago, I started his program, which includes health coaching.
When I signed up, I was stressed between running for the condo association board and preparing for Hypnothoughts. I tried every one of my hypnosis tricks, but nothing seemed to be working.
I mentioned to the health coach that I was having trouble sleeping. And she recommended "Yoga Nidra." I'm not going to lie. I have a conscious bias against anything that is "Yoga." I know yoga is supposed to be good for you, but every time I've tried it, I've found it to be a constant source of pain and frustration. Due to a lack of arm strength, my "salutations to the sun" end up being "hellos to the dirt." My "downward facing dogs" end up becoming "a severe suffocation session" because my "ample bosom" blocks my windpipe.
When I explained this to the health coach, she reassured me that Yoga Nidra was perfect for me because it was like a hypnosis session that required lying on the floor in Shavasana or "corpse pose." (Yikes! A word I can't pronounce, and it means "dead body position" in English. There are two more reasons not to like yoga!)
I searched YouTube and Apple Music, found some Yoga Nidra recordings, and tried one. Forty minutes later, I felt recharged and ready to go! It worked. I created a playlist of Yoga Nidra and hypnosis recordings that I listen to when I go to sleep, and it's made a huge difference. While I'm still very stressed, I know I'm feeling much better thanks to Yoga Nidra.
Here are some of the benefits of Yoga Nidra:
Promotes Deep Relaxation: Yoga Nidra guides you into deep relaxation, which helps release tension and stress from the body. It is often said that a single hour of yoga nidra can be as restorative as four hours of conventional sleep.
Improves Sleep Quality: Regular practice of Yoga Nidra can help combat insomnia and improve overall sleep quality. It trains the mind and body to relax, aiding in falling asleep faster and experiencing more restful sleep.
Enhances Concentration and Focus: This meditation requires you to concentrate on different body parts and the flow of your breath, which can enhance mental focus and concentration over time.
Accessible to Everyone: Regardless of physical fitness level or experience with yoga, anyone can practice Yoga Nidra. It's a gentle form of meditation done lying down, making it accessible for all ages and abilities.
Emotional Healing: Yoga Nidra can facilitate emotional healing by creating a mindful and serene space. It allows practitioners to address and release subconscious tensions or traumas in a safe and controlled manner.
Fosters Mindfulness: Through its systematic approach to body scanning and breath awareness, Yoga Nidra cultivates mindfulness, helping you stay present and aware in day-to-day activities.
Encourages Self-Discovery: Practicing Yoga Nidra can lead to increased self-awareness and introspection, encouraging personal growth and a deeper understanding of one's own mind and emotions.
Balances the Nervous System: By activating the parasympathetic nervous system through deep relaxation, Yoga Nidra helps balance the fight-or-flight response, beneficial for those dealing with anxiety or stress-related disorders.
Strengthens the Immune System: Reducing stress hormones and the restorative effects of deep relaxation may strengthen the immune system, leaving practitioners less susceptible to illness.
No Special Equipment Needed: Unlike many forms of exercise or physical Yoga, Yoga Nidra requires no special equipment. A quiet space, comfortable clothing, and something to lie on is all you need to begin your journey into deep relaxation.
