I’ve always been a restless sleeper. Even as a child, I’d toss and turn, thoughts racing, counting sheep well into the early hours. As an adult, this problem only escalated. The stress of work, family, and everything else that life throws my way turned the act of sleep into a nightly battle.
On top of that, I’ve always been fascinated by my dreams — their vividness, their symbolism, their unpredictability. I’d wake up some mornings with such clear recollections of dream-filled adventures that it felt like I had lived an entire separate life while sleeping.
In search of a solution to my sleep issues and to understand my dreams better, I stumbled upon yoga nidra — a yogic practice that promises deep relaxation and heightened awareness of the subconscious mind. It seemed like an interesting approach to sleep and dream exploration.
So, I decided to give it a shot. I committed myself to practicing yoga nidra every night before sleep for a week. My hope was that it would not only improve my sleep but also influence my dream patterns.
What happened next was surprising. My dreams didn’t just change — they transformed in ways that challenged everything I thought I knew about my subconscious mind.
Now, one and a half years later, living in Colorado after seven years in Singapore and New York City before that, I still practice yoga nidra regularly. And even though I’ve adapted to the rhythms of life in the Rockies, the impact that this simple bedtime ritual has had on my dreams continues to astound me. Here’s how my week-long experiment with yoga nidra changed my dream patterns and ultimately my understanding of my own mind.
How I practiced yoga nidra before sleep
Initially skeptical, my first foray into yoga nidra involved a simple yet specific routine aimed at achieving a state of consciousness between wakefulness and sleep, where the mind is most receptive.
Step-by-Step Guide to Yoga Nidra Practice
- Setting the Scene: Each night, I dedicated a half-hour before bed to this practice. I chose a quiet, dimly lit space in my home, ensuring I wouldn’t be disturbed. Creating a peaceful environment is crucial for yoga nidra.
- Getting Comfortable: Lying down in a comfortable position is key. I used a yoga mat and a pillow for my head, but you can use a bed or any flat surface. Ensure you’re warm enough, perhaps with a blanket, since the body can cool down when you’re still.
- Using Guided Meditation: Yoga nidra is typically practiced through guided sessions. I used headphones to listen to a recorded yoga nidra meditation. There are numerous online resources available, from free YouTube videos to specialized apps. Choose a voice and style that resonates with you.
- Focusing on Breath and Body: The guided meditation started with deep breathing exercises, helping me focus inward. It then guided me through a body scan, asking me to mentally acknowledge and relax each part of my body, from head to toe.
- Visualization and Intention Setting: The guide often instructed me to visualize calming images and set intentions (Sankalpa) for my practice. This could include affirmations or resolving a particular issue in your life.
- Transition into Relaxation: As I followed the guide, I noticed a shift in consciousness. The idea is to hover in the liminal space between wakefulness and sleep. It’s normal for the mind to wander; the key is to gently bring your focus back to the guide’s voice.
- Ending the Session: The session would gently conclude, usually by gradually bringing awareness back to the body and surrounding environment. I took a few moments before getting up to internalize the sense of calm and relaxation.
The first few nights required adjustment. Being accustomed to restlessness, it felt unusual to lie still with closed eyes, focusing solely on a voice guiding my thoughts. However, by the third night, I found myself slipping more easily into this relaxed state.
This practice had a profound effect on my dream patterns. They transitioned from random, disconnected sequences to vivid, narrative-like experiences, offering deep insights into my subconscious.
These changes in my dream patterns made me question some commonly held beliefs about dreams and our subconscious minds. My experience with yoga nidra has led me to develop a perspective that deviates from what many people assume about the nature of dreams and their connection to our waking lives.
Challenging common beliefs about dreams
Most people tend to view dreams as random, disconnected episodes — a kaleidoscope of images and events that are often unrelated to our waking lives. This belief was something I had subscribed to as well, until my experience with yoga nidra.
As my week of nightly yoga nidra unfolded, I noticed a distinct shift in the nature of my dreams. They were no longer disjointed sequences of events but began to form cohesive narratives. They seemed to reflect my thoughts, emotions, and experiences from my waking life in a way that felt profound and deeply personal.
This shift in my dream patterns led me to question the common belief about dreams being random and meaningless. My dreams started to feel like extensions of my conscious mind, offering insights into my inner psyche that I hadn’t accessed before.
Deciphering the narratives of my dreams
As my dreams began to take shape into more coherent narratives, I decided to start recording them. Every morning, immediately after waking up, I would jot down as many details as I could recall. The characters, the setting, the storyline — everything went into my dream journal.
The act of writing down my dreams helped crystallize them in my memory, making them easier to reflect upon later. As the days turned into weeks, patterns began to emerge. Certain symbols and themes kept cropping up — and many of them seemed to mirror aspects of my waking life.
I started researching these symbols and themes, relating them to my personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings. This exercise helped me understand my subconscious mind better and gave me insights into my emotional state that I was previously unaware of.
If you’re having restless nights or are simply curious about your dreams, I would highly recommend trying out yoga nidra and keeping a dream journal. It’s an enlightening experience that has the potential to offer profound insights into your inner self. It certainly did for me.
Embracing change and living authentically
Throughout this journey, I’ve learned a few crucial lessons about taking responsibility for my sleep issues, challenging societal norms about dreams, and ultimately, living life on my own terms.
Firstly, my sleep problems were not just a random occurrence. I had to take ownership of the situation and actively seek solutions. Yoga nidra was an unconventional approach, but it was a choice I made, taking responsibility for my well-being.
Secondly, our dreams are not just random sequences of images. They can be meaningful narratives reflecting our subconscious mind. This was a direct challenge to the societal norm that often dismisses dreams as insignificant.
Finally, this entire experience reinforced the importance of living life aligned with my true nature. The insights I gained from yoga nidra and journaling my dreams guided me towards greater self-understanding and self-acceptance.
Here are the key takeaways from my journey:
- Taking responsibility for personal well-being is empowering.
- Challenging societal norms can lead to profound insights.
- Living a life aligned with one’s true nature brings fulfillment and satisfaction.
This journey of self-discovery and personal growth has been transformative. It’s helped me realize the importance of seeking solutions that resonate with who I am as an individual. It’s also made me reflect on societal beliefs that may limit my potential and growth.