#08 Guided Episode - 15 Minute Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation with Pip Roberts

In this episode, last weeks guest Pip Roberts shares the most incredible 15 minute guided yoga nidra session. If you missed last weeks episode, Pip is a yoga and meditation teacher and founder of Now Studio in Bristol. She is armed with rituals and resources for relaxation and just taking the stress out of everyday life. Last week, Pip and I talked about finding balance, the importance of rest and how to navigate the wellness scene in a way that feel empowered and authentic for you on an individual level. She also talked us through yoga nidra - a practice she has been guiding people through for years alongside traditional yoga classes. In fact, not yoga at all, yoga nidra is known as yogic sleep, and you don't need to move a muscle. It is more like meditation, but for me it works even more deeply than that. It is a completely passive ritual, meaning you don't need to focus your attention or observe your thoughts like in some forms of meditation. Instead, you can just fully surrender and be carried along by the words and instructions, and your subconscious will pick up on them even if you feel yourself drifting into a deep sleep. It might sound a bit out there, but put simply, yoga nidra is one of the most relaxing rituals you can use, and it works in the present moment to encourage relaxation but can also offer other longer-term benefits, too, like reducing stress, reducing anxiety, improving mood and encouraging better sleep. In this session, Pip starts by guiding us through setting our own personal intentions at the beginning of the practice - known as a sankalpa - and then leads us through a body scan and beyond.  I would recommend to do this in the evenings or just before bed, as it is deeply relaxing. You'll end the practice feeling incredibly zen, maybe a bit spaced out but also much clearer headed, lighter and more present. You can practice this during the day if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, but I would recommend it more for the end of the day as you begin to wind down. I really hope you enjoy it and come back to it again and again and again.  SHOW NOTES: www.theprocess.life/podcast