Texas Yoga Conference 2016

Yoga nidra or "yogic sleep" is a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping, like the "going-to-sleep" stage. It is a state in which the body is completely relaxed, and the practitioner becomes systematically and increasingly aware of the inner world by following a set of (audio) instructions. This state of consciousness (yoga nidra) is different to meditation in which concentration on a single focus is required. In yoga nidra the practitioner remains in a state of light pratyahara with four of his senses internalised (withdrawn) and only the hearing still connects to the instructions. The yogic goal of both paths, deep relaxation (yoga nidra) and meditation are the same, a state called samadhi.

Yoga nidra, lucid sleep, is among the deepest possible states of relaxation while still maintaining full consciousness. In lucid dreaming, one is only (or mainly) cognizant of the dream environment, and has little or no awareness of one's actual environment. The practice of yoga relaxation[clarification needed] has been found to reduce tension and anxiety. The autonomic symptoms of high anxiety such as headache, giddiness, chest pain, palpitations, sweating and abdominal pain respond well. It has been used to help soldiers from war cope with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yoga nidra refers to the conscious awareness of the deep sleep state, referred to as prajna in Mandukya Upanishad.

**Bring a yoga mat and a blanket to join the practice.

Smitha Mallaiah, MS
Smitha Mallaiah works as a Mind-Body Intervention Specialist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer center’s Integrative medicine program. She received her Master’s in Yoga therapy from S-VYASA, Yoga University at Bangalore India. Smitha has been teaching yoga therapy for specific aliments for over 12 years at various hospitals and clinics. At MD Anderson she is involved in Developing and teaching yoga research interventions for different Cancer populations, like Breast, lung and Brain cancers. In addition to yoga practice and philosophy, she has also studied Psychology, Ayurveda and Naturopathy which gives a holistic approach to her patient care. She is passionate about studying the impact of Yogic life style changes for disease management & patient related outcomes.