It is the start of a new year and how many times have you told yourself "this is it, this year I will change, I will not do 'this' or 'that' anymore" and you find yourself a few month later still stuck in the same patterns & habits? How many people around you go through their 'new year, new me' phase? We've all been there...
In a world filled with constant distractions and demands, achieving personal growth and transformation can feel challenging, especially at this time of the year. Many of us set intentions to change our habits, improve our well-being, or pursue personal goals, but often struggle to sustain those changes. Why? Because true transformation doesn’t happen solely on a conscious level—it requires a shift in the subconscious mind. It is very hard to change a conscious habit until the subconscious root has been shifted. This is where the practice of Yoga Nidra comes in.
Yoga Nidra, often referred to as "yogic sleep," is a powerful meditation practice that taps into the subconscious mind to release limiting beliefs and rewire thought patterns. Unlike traditional meditation practices that require focused concentration, Yoga Nidra guides you into a state of deep relaxation where your mind becomes receptive to change. In this article, we’ll explore how Yoga Nidra can help you achieve growth through subconscious rewiring.
Understanding the Subconscious Mind
The human mind operates on two levels: the conscious and the subconscious. The conscious mind is responsible for logic, reasoning, and decision-making. It’s where we set our goals and intentions. However, the subconscious mind holds our deeply ingrained beliefs, habits, and emotional patterns.
Think of the subconscious as a garden—the seeds you plant there grow into thoughts, behaviors, and actions that shape your reality. If limiting beliefs or negative thought patterns have been planted over time, they can hinder your growth and prevent you from achieving your full potential. Rewiring the subconscious mind involves removing these limiting beliefs and replacing them with positive intentions.
I will take a simple example to illustrate this: think of someone who smokes/vapes around you, maybe yourself. How many times have you seen yourself or this person trying to stop and not being able to? It's because whilst the habit is known to be harmful for the health, it is so rooted in the subconcious mind that unless it is rewired, the habit will be so hard to give up on.
Yoga Nidra provides a unique and effective way to access the subconscious mind, making it a powerful tool for personal growth.
How Yoga Nidra Rewires the Subconscious Mind
When you enter the state of deep relaxation during Yoga Nidra, your mind becomes highly suggestible. This is similar to the state experienced during hypnosis. In this state, the subconscious mind is more open to receiving new ideas and releasing old, limiting beliefs. Therefore, a consistent practice will help you rewire your own brain, plant new resolves to change deeply rooted habits you want to change. A consistent practice has a strong cumulative effect so don't understimate practicing even just 10 minutes a day when you go to bed! Rewiring the subconscious mind and lifelong 'bad' habits does not happen overnight. It requires consistent practice. Just as habits take time to form, positive intentions need regular reinforcement to take root in the subconscious. Here’s how Yoga Nidra rewires the subconscious mind:
Releasing Negative Patterns: The subconscious mind holds onto memories, emotions, and thought patterns that influence your behavior. During Yoga Nidra, you create space to observe and release these patterns without judgment. The practice allows you to detach from negative beliefs that no longer serve you, paving the way for new, positive thought patterns to take root.
Planting New Intentions (Sankalpa): The Sankalpa is a positive, heartfelt intention that you set at the beginning of your Yoga Nidra practice. This intention is not a goal in the traditional sense but a deep desire aligned with your true self. By repeatedly planting this intention in your subconscious mind, you create a powerful force for change. The subconscious mind begins to work in alignment with your Sankalpa, shaping your thoughts, actions, and reality.
Engaging the Relaxation Response: Yoga Nidra activates the body’s relaxation response, which counteracts the stress response. Chronic stress can lead to a constant state of fight-or-flight, making it difficult for the mind to release old patterns. By calming the nervous system, Yoga Nidra creates the ideal conditions for the subconscious mind to absorb new intentions and beliefs.
Accessing Brainwave States: During Yoga Nidra, the brain moves through different wave states: Beta (wakeful state) - Alpha (relaxed state) - Theta (dreamlike state) - Delta (deep sleep state). Theta and delta states are where the subconscious mind is most receptive. These brainwave states allow you to bypass the critical, analytical mind and plant seeds of transformation directly in the subconscious.
Personal Growth Through Yoga Nidra: Real-Life Transformation The power of Yoga Nidra lies in its ability to facilitate deep, lasting transformation. Here are some examples of how people have used Yoga Nidra for personal growth:
Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs: Many practitioners report overcoming negative self-talk and building self-confidence through repeated practice.
Improved Emotional Regulation: Yoga Nidra helps release pent-up emotions, leading to greater emotional resilience.
Manifesting Goals: By planting a Sankalpa in the subconscious, practitioners align their actions with their intentions, making it easier to achieve personal goals.
My Personal Journey with Yoga Nidra
As a Yoga Nidra teacher, I have personally experienced the profound impact of this practice on the subconscious mind. Over the past 8 months, since I fell pregnant, I’ve grown incredibly passionate about how Yoga Nidra can unlock personal growth and transformation by working with the subconscious mind.
During my pregnancy, I faced insomnia despite having a previously consistent sleep routine. Yoga Nidra became my sanctuary, helping me find rest and peace. The practice allowed me to connect deeply with my subconscious, set meaningful intentions, and experience true rest despite the challenges of pregnancy. Not only it helped me finding rest when I couldn't sleep but this experience reinforced my belief in the power of Yoga Nidra to facilitate transformation and growth, particularly around my pre-conceived beliefs around giving birth. I used to be so frightened about it that it almost made me reluctant to ever have children. My husband and I were fortunate and I to have become pregnant quickly this year and I knew I had to get over my fear so I could welcome the process of giving birth as a natural, safe & build strong belief that I can trust my body with it.
Final Thoughts
Yoga Nidra offers a powerful path to personal growth by working directly with the subconscious mind. Through regular practice and the intentional use of Sankalpa, you can release limiting beliefs, plant seeds of positive change, and achieve lasting transformation. By committing to a consistent practice, you’ll find that growth happens effortlessly—one restful session at a time.
Did you know I have a FREE 20-minutes Yoga Nidra practice to give away? If not, then head over here and download it now to start your journey until my Intention & Growth bundle comes out
With love,
Mathilde xx
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