I’m beyond excited to share something truly magical with you all. Some years ago, I struggled with quieting my mind, especially at night when I was winding down. The constant chatter made relaxation seem impossible. That’s when I stumbled upon yoga nidra, often referred to as the yoga of sleep. Skeptical but hopeful, I decided to give it a try.
As I laid down and listened to the teacher’s guidance through body awareness, I initially felt like it wasn’t doing much. But before I knew it, I was deeply relaxed, my mind drifting away for about 45 minutes. When I returned to awareness, I felt peaceful and my mind was quiet. I experienced a state of rest which I was missing for years. Yoga nidra had transformed my meditation practice in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I was fascinated with how it worked with the mind that I learned how to teach it.
Fast forward several years, and I found myself with a group of regular students eager to explore new practices. Being a longtime reiki practitioner, it felt natural to me to bring reiki into my yoga class and my students were excited to experience it. If you are new to reiki, let me briefly explain what it is. Reiki is Life Force Energy, a force that gives our body vitality and balance. It is also the practice of harnessing this energy for our well-being. Combining yoga nidra with hands-on reiki was an experiment that left us all transformed. These two treasures, one rooted in India and the other in Japan, create a beautiful synergy.. The deep relaxation induced by yoga nidra allowed my students to become more receptive to the healing energy of reiki.
But that wasn’t all I got out of it. As a reiki practitioner, I’ve encountered similar challenges when working with clients one-on-one. Those with busy, chattering minds often struggled to fully experience the energy of reiki. Guided meditation, like yoga nidra, became an essential tool for me in helping others quiet their minds and assist them in opening up to the deeper healing experiences that reiki facilitates.
It’s easy to underestimate the impact of our busy minds on our overall well-being. The constant mental chatter creates resistance, hindering our ability to reach the deeper areas of ourselves that are necessary for inner healing. But with the gentle guidance of a soothing voice, we can begin to release the layers of stress and tension accumulated over time. Imagine being able to let go of your day, week, month and even years of stress you’ve been carrying on our shoulders. Then receiving reiki to fill up your cup. It is a powerful step in your self care.
Reiki and yoga nidra are pure synergy for the mind-body-soul connection and I invite you to join me in experiencing deep relaxation, rest and healing.
Written by Reiki Master Aiyana Fraley weekly on Tuesdays nights from 7:15pm-8:15pm for Reiki and Yoga Nidra!