Therapeutic Effects of Yoga Nidra: A Review

Abstract

Yoga Nidra is a relaxation technique. The name “Yoga Nidra” derives from two Sanskrit words, “Yoga” which means union and “Nidra” which means sleep. Yoga Nidra is a state of consciousness, guided by meditation. The goal of Yoga Nidra is to move into a deep state of conscious awareness sleep. In modern aspect this works with autonomic nervous system. General objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of Yoga Nidra. Specific objectives were to identify the therapeutic effects of Yoga Nidra for psychological diseases and to identify the therapeutic effects of Yoga Nidra for physical diseases. Literature searches were carried out using the words Yoga Nidra; typed into popular search engines, including Google and Google Scholar to find out the therapeutic effects of Yoga Nidra within the period of 06 months was the methodology. The study showed that Yoga Nidra is beneficial in reducing mental diseases such as stress, anxiety, insomnia and post-traumatic stress syndrome, psychosomatic disorders and physical diseases such as hormonal imbalance, pain in diseases, migraine and Non communicable diseases; Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension and Cardiovascular diseases. Yoga Nidra has therapeutic effects, practice of it improves physical, mental and social well-being and it can be used as a preventive, promotive and curative technique were the conclusions of this study. Key words: Yoga Nidra, Depression, Anxiety, Non communicable diseases, well-being