158: Yoga Nidra with Kaya Mindlin
Something that is said to be as old as yoga itself, but which is less well-known and not as widely practiced is Yoga Nidra. Sometimes described as “yogic sleep”, Yoga Nidra can be a powerful healing technique. Kaya Mindlin, an expert on the topic of Yoga Nidra, shares more about this fascinating aspect of yoga in this interview.
Kaya Mindlin is a Yoga Therapist and Ayurvedic Practitioner with 18 years of experience teaching yoga and nine years of experience training and mentoring yoga teachers. She is the co-Founder and director of the Emeryville Yoga Therapy Center and has created multiple programs for yoga teachers. She is passionate about the soft, slow, inward-oriented side of yoga that holds the purpose of yoga at its heart. Today, Kaya teaches yoga teachers in-person and online, through training courses, mentoring and private sessions in yoga therapy and Ayurveda.
What does Yoga Nidra offer that other practices may not? Why is it especially needed in our modern society? What kinds of things can come up for students during Yoga Nidra, and how can we as yoga teachers hold space for that? These are just a few of the topics Kaya shares more about. She also talks about the best positions for Yoga Nidra, what a good Yoga Nidra script should include, and even has some special resources for you.
This is an excellent episode for anyone curious about the practice and benefits of Yoga Nidra, both as a teacher of yoga and to use in your own practice.
Key Takeaways:
[6:55] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode – Kaya Mindlin.
[8:43] Where did Kaya’s yoga journey begin?
[11:17] What is Kaya’s specialty now, and how did she find her focus?
“Yoga nidra is an inner state. It is the deep sleep state with awareness retained.” ~ Kaya Mindlin
[12:35] Kaya explains the pronunciation of ‘Nidra’ and why the pronunciation matters.
[15:50] What is Yoga Nidra?
“At a deep level, it’s very appealing to us because we are starved for rest and relaxation, and we’re really starved for sleep.” ~ Kaya Mindlin
[17:24] What happens when people fall asleep during Yoga Nidra?
[18:17] How do we know when we’ve reached the state of Yoga Nidra?
[21:29] When can we access the Yoga Nidra state?
[22:40] Why is Yoga Nidra so important?
[24:35] What are some of the other benefits of the Yoga Nidra state?
[29:15] What are some things we might experience in a state of Yoga Nidra?
“I train [yoga teachers] in techniques to open the doorway to that state, but there’s no guarantee that it will happen, but whatever happens will be beneficial.” ~ Kaya Mindlin
[32:46] Where would Kaya recommend that yoga teachers try out Yoga Nidra?
[34:56] Kaya has some resources available on Yoga Nidra.
[35:41] Kaya shares more about her offerings both online and in person.
[40:39] A lot of problems we see in people in modern society are related to sleep.
[45:10] What does Kaya wish yoga teachers knew about Yoga Nidra?
“Yoga nidra works at the subconscious level to resolve problematic patterns of thinking and habits, and it also goes all the way to the unconscious level.” ~ Kaya Mindlin
[47:24] Find out more about Kaya and her work at her website.
[48:33] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this episode.
Links:
- Kaya Mindlin
- Kaya Mindlin on Instagram
- Emeryville Yoga Therapy Center
- Nectar of Nidra (Discount Code: ConnectedYoga20)
- The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 149: Yoga for Anxiety with Amanda Whiting
- Rodney Yee
- Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020
Dear Shannon,
I just listened to the Yoga Nidra podcast with Kaya Mindlin. I loved it SO much. I have been leading Yoga Nidra for a couple of years now and really loved the way Kaya explained what it is and how powerful and therapeutic it can be. As soon as I send this email I am going to check out Kaya’s website and enjoy a little yoga Nidra with her.
Thanks SO much Shannon for all you do. I love the Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast and the FB group. I learn something every single day! Wishing you a wonderful day.
In peace and friendship,
Laura
Laura 🙂
Thank you so much for taking the time to share a comment here. I am thrilled that you are going to check out Kaya’s website.
Thank you for your support and all that you do in the world.
May I second Laura’s comments here? Because Laura and I are connected yoga teachers 😉 and because she said it all so beautifully! I am certified in Yoga Nidra, but am signing up for Kaya’s course because I really enjoyed all that she shared about the practice, and I love learning more!
Thank you so much Shannon for offering such a valuable resource to all of us through the podcast and your Facebook group.
Be Well in All Ways,
Kristen
Shannon,
This was a remarkable episode. Thank you for diving in to your vulnerability and having Kaya Mindlin on the podcast to discuss Yoga Nidra. I did Restorative Yoga training with Andrea Peloso (also loved your interview with her!) a few years ago and this practice has been so healing for myself and so many of my clients. I’m always curious about the connection between Restorative and Yoga Nidra, they seem to be similar. I feel like in a deep restorative practice, we are resting in a Yoga Nidra state. Looks like I’ll potentially be able to ask Kaya this over the next couple of months, because I signed up for her course this evening. So appreciate the interview and the opportunity to be introduced to Kaya through your podcast. Thanks, Shannon!
I really enjoyed this episode because I teach a specialized form of Yoga Nidra called iRest (Integrative Restoration Yoga Nidra). I would love to talk to you about the differences some day and what makes it unique. Thank you for your podcast Shannon I’m loving all the episodes and appreciate the wise wisdom from talented speakers you provide.
I love the practice of nidra and enjoyed this pod cast very much. Except for the long drawn out explanation of the importance of the “correct” pronunciation of nidra. I still can’t get my head around this part of the pod cast. I thought it was pretentious and perhaps even exclusionary. I’m sure that the intention wasn’t that at all, but, in order to share this well needed limb of yoga with the masses it’s important to make all feel welcome. I can still speak spanish without the “perfect” accent and get my point across. Sometimes we need to ditch the sanskrit to make what we do accessible for all.