Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) June/July 2020 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 57

3 4 5 Peggy REDUCE ANXIETY & STRESS When you practice yoga nidra, you engage the relaxation response in your body. Your brain literally shifts from lots of activity (beta) to a state of calm (alpha). Allowing your brain to downshift into a deep state of relaxation helps calm and reduce anxiety and stress. Our bodies become deeply relaxed and go into a rest and restore mode - achieving theta and delta states. Thoughts dramatically slow down in these states. You may see images or receive random thoughts. You may also experience profound insight. HEALTH BENEFITS & SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS Numerous physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of practicing yoga nidra include stimulating the rest and digest response, decreased stress, lowering high blood pressure, improves circulation, reduces pain, improves and stabilizes mood, and improves your overall sense of wellbeing. There are times when things bubble up during yoga nidra like long held fears or anxiety and this practice allows you a safe place to process and release. Yoga nidra may even lead you to profound spiritual insight. EASY TO DO Yoga nidra is easy to do. You don’t need to be skinny or tall, touch your toes or lick your elbow. You simply lie down and fall awake. The most common feedback I receive from my students is that this practice leaves them feeling rested and energized at the same time. They feel relaxed and at peace. One of my students uses this practice to reduce back pain. Another has seen her creative side appear. Many of my students are perimenopausal and this practice helps reduce insomnia and hot flashes. Even my students who came to this practice with the belief that they can’t stay still discovered that they can sink deep into silence and stillness. One of the most common experiences is that most of my students lose track of time during yoga nidra. When the practice ends, I often hear, “that was 60 minutes?” Time and space seem to drift away when you’re in between wakefulness and sleep. For me, this practice is a blessing. I have received a number of critical, what I call “yoga nidra downloads.” The one to paint surprised me. My practice reignited my creativity - especially my writing - and encouraged me to release my old stories as they no longer served me. As a yoga nidra teacher, now more than ever, I’m compelled to bring this practice to as many as I can - the tired, the worn out, the stressed out, and to those who are seeking their own answers. If you’re curious about yoga nidra, feel free to try it. Find your peace and quiet with this free 15-minute recording. Nolan - Peggy is a certified yoga teacher at the 500-hour level. She’s been practicing yoga since 2002 and teaching since 2009. Peggy is also Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra certified. When she’s not teaching or practicing yoga, Peggy can be found crocheting hats, scarves, and fashion accessories for women and children. Peggy lives in Derry, NH with her husband, Rick. Together they share a passion for traveling, camping, and their 6 grandchildren. You can learn more at www.PeggyNolanYoga.com and join her on Facebook and Instagram. HEALTH & WELLNESS 57