Yogarupa Rod Stryker – ParaYoga Nidra: Enlightened Sleep – A 40-Hour Online Course

ParaYoga Nidra is the sublime method where deep, dreamless, sleep leads one into the sublime heights of meditative experience. On the one hand, practice is a means to access a form of complete relaxation––the deepest physiological rest and a gateway to access total physical and mental healing and regeneration. On the other hand, it is potentially much more. In short, relaxation and deep rest is only the beginning of where the practice of Yoga Nidra can lead. In this immersion, you will discover how Yoga Nidra is less about relaxation, a nap or even sleep, and more about awakening, which is why yoga nidra––when approached systematically––can rightfully be called Enlightened Sleep.

Three practices a day are woven with deep study, self-reflection, and intention setting. We explore Yoga Nidra from a traditional approach (as an ancient practice, found in Buddhist, Tantrik, and Upanishadik texts). We progress through its five distinct aims and we explore various approaches and decipher some of the yogic knowledge that reveals its foundational principles.

ParaYoga Nidra course allows you to learn at your own pace via pre-recorded lectures and Q&As.

What Sets ParaYoga Nidra (PYN) Apart from Different Styles of Yoga Nidra?

ParaYoga Nidra is one of the five leading approaches to Yoga Nidra in the West. The other four use an identical template and seem to be sourced from a singular source, one that was developed in the past 50 years by the Bihar Yoga school. ParaYoga Nidra is based on the Himalayan tradition; its roots can be traced to the ancient texts. The approach facilitates entering all four stages of Yoga Nidra and, unlike other systems, uses five different templates, depending on the aim of a particular session. These are some of the reasons why it is distinct from other leading approaches.

What to Expect During This Training:

We delve into Yoga Nidra in light of the timeless teachings of the Mandukya Upanishad. This is one of the most essential scriptures of the yoga tradition. In addition to explaining the mantra OM, it explores which explains the four states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, sleeping, and beyond. The scripture outlines key insights into ParaYoga Nidra and the process of entering the “4th state.”

We also draw on the wisdom of the koshas (the five layers of consciousness: physical, energetic, mental, intellect, and causal bodies) to inform both your teaching and practice as well as life off the mat. The course also includes subtle movement and breathing practices as preparation for ParaYoga Nidra. You will want to ensure that you are warm and comfortable lying down for extended periods and ideally practicing in a space that is relatively peaceful and conducive to quiet study––along with your mat, consider using extra padding to lie on, and a small pillow for your head, etc.

In this training, Yoga Nidra will be approached as a modality for:

• Healing
• Transformation
• Sankalpa
• Transcendence
• Accessing the timeless wisdom of the sages––the most subtle application of yoga nidra

Other topics covered include:

• The Four Levels of Yoga Nidra
• The Gateways of practice: Homeostasis, Resilience, Coherence, and Enstasy
• The Principles of Teaching
• Stages of Sleep
• History of Yoga Nidra
• Brainwaves
• Beyond Waking, Dreaming and Deep Sleep

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