Yoga studios throughout Denver are seeing an increase in yoga nidra classes, in which participants flow through poses, breathing and flexibility — all laying down on the floor.
Janie Gianotsos, who teaches at the Samadhi Center for Yoga in north Denver, joked that she has a “monkey mind.” She found it difficult to concentrate while meditating. But in yoga nidra classes, she found the sense of relaxation she wanted. Classes involve a guided meditation as people lay on their backs on the floor. The meditation is meant to guide people into a rested state.
The class helps people relax and connect with their bodies.
“I noticed I could be quiet. I noticed I could rest,” Gianotsos said. “It allows your brain to truly slow down and rest.”
Alyssa Gunn, a teacher at Kindness Collective, which has studios all over Denver, said practicing nidra has helped her control her emotions better.
“It’s the basis of all yoga,” said Gunn, who has been teaching the class for eight years. “It’s always bringing you back to center.”
Gunn believes more people may be taking the class because they are realizing the benefits of relaxation. People are feeling burned out and depleted, and a yoga nidra session can help combat that, she added.
“People need to learn to sit still and be with themselves,” Gunn said. “It’s a recognition that life doesn’t always need to be so dramatic.”
Gianotsos agreed, saying yoga nidra helps bring people into a relaxed state similar to sleeping.
When Gunn first started teaching the class, few yoga studios offered nidra. Now, people can find classes at various studios almost every day of the week.
For people who don’t want to try the class in the studio, several yoga nidra podcasts and recordings have the guided meditation similar to the classes, Gianotsos said.
Even just listening to a nidra class or podcast can help people gain the relaxation benefits, Gianotos said. With constant messaging from phones and advertisements, the class is a way to help people “turn the volume down.”
“You can’t do it wrong,” Gianotsos said. “If you can’t meditate, you can do this.”
