#yoga #yogapractice of #YogaNidra #yogatalk before #yogaforbeginners Yoga nidra #meditation is associated with increased endogenous dopamine release in the ventral striatum of the brain. The reduced desire for action in the state is associated with the reduced flow of blood in parts of the brain connected with controlling actions, the prefrontal cortex, the cerebellum and the subcortex. Yoga nidra improves heart rate variability, a measure of balance in the autonomic nervous system, whether or not it is preceded by a session of hatha yoga #asana-s. The regular practice of yoga relaxation has been found to reduce tension and anxiety. The autonomic symptoms of high anxiety such as headache, giddiness, chest pain, palpitations, sweating and abdominal pain respond well. It has been used to help soldiers from war cope with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A 2019 study suggests that yoga nidra can alleviate stress and improve self-esteem of university students. In modern times, #SatyanandaSaraswati claimed to have experienced yoga nidra when he was living with his #guru #Sivananda Saraswati. He began studying the #tantric scriptures and, after practice, constructed a system of relaxation which he popularized in the mid-20th century. He explained yoga nidra as a state of mind between wakefulness and sleep that opened deep phases of the mind, suggesting a connection with the ancient tantric practice called #nyasa, whereby Sanskrit mantras are mentally placed within specific body parts, while meditating on each part (of the #bodymind). The form of practice taught by Satyananda includes eight stages (internalisation, #sankalpa, rotation of consciousness, breath awareness, manifestation of opposites, #creative visualization, sankalpa and externalisation). Satyananda used this technique, along with suggestion, on the child who was to become his successor, #NiranjananandaSaraswati, from the age of four. He claims to have taught him several languages by this method. #Swapna is the #Sanskrit word for the #dreamstate compared with the states of #wakeful #consciousness (#jagrat), #deepsleep in which no cognition occurs (#sushupti), and the fourth state known as #turiya (at Московская Школа Йоги на Серпуховской (MYS)) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCPLFXRnapa/?igshid=anhhg6r8lnxi