Yoga Nidra
Awakening Your
Inner Healer
Doodling Aids
Memory
By Kamini Desai, Ph.D.
D
oodling might imply a wandering
E
very night when we go to sleep,
we transition from the waking
state to dreaming, and then to
mind, but according to a study
deep sleep. In deep sleep, we are
published in the journal Applied Cog-
disengaged from thoughts. All our
nitive Psychology, the contrary is true;
problems disappear. We don’t know if tolerance to stress, manage pain,
doodling can actually help people
we have money in the bank, if we are lower blood pressure and cholesterol,
remember details.
sick or healthy, if we like our job, or manage blood sugar in adult onset
Study participants who were
even where we live—it all disappears. diabetes, boost immune response, and
directed to doodle while listening to
In this profound state of rest, the body alleviate stress-related conditions from
a dull phone message demonstrated a
restores itself on a very deep level. irritable bowel syndrome to angina.
29 percent improved recall compared
This is why doctors tell us to get plenty Yoga Nidra techniques may therefore
with their non-doodling counterparts.
of rest when we are sick. When the be tailored to address a wide variety
“If someone is doing a boring task,
body is unimpeded by the machina- of needs, from aiding health challeng-
they may start to daydream. Day-
tions of the mind, it taps into an inner es such as diabetes, obesity, and heart
dreaming distracts them from the task,
healing power that rejuvenates us in a disease to,managing crippling condi-
resulting in poorer performance,” ex-
way that nothing else can. tions such as post traumatic stress dis-
plains study co-author Jackie Andrade,
Unfortunately for most of us, order, depression, and addiction. Yoga
Ph.D., a psychology professor at the
however, our sleep isn’t always deeply Nidra can also be used to improve
University of Plymouth, in England.
peaceful and restorative. Instead, our sports performance and productivity.
“A simple task, like doodling, may be
nights are plagued by thoughts, dreams Numerous studies suggest that
sufficient to stop daydreaming without
and emotions left over from our chaotic Yoga Nidra is a powerful tool for op-
affecting performance on the main
days, interfering with sleep’s ability to timizing mental and physical health,
task.” It turns out that in everyday life,
fulfill its original purpose. creating greater mental clarity and
doodling may be something we do
Fortunately, there is a solution. problem-solving ability. And perhaps
because it helps us stay on track.
The yogis of old recognized the deeply best of all, because it doesn’t require
restorative and meditative qualities great skill or physical capability, with
Source: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009
that sleep naturally engenders, as well the right guidance it can be an ac-
less salt Means
as how these benefits were often inter- cessible and potent adjunct to other
rupted by the overactive mind. To opti- healing modalities and treatments.
longer lives
mize the body’s natural inner healer,
U
niversity of California, San
they developed a practice called yogic Kamini Desai,
Francisco computer simulation
sleep or yoga nidra. Like sleeping, it is Ph.D., is a lead-
research projects that a 3-gram-a-day
usually practiced lying down; unlike ing authority in
reduction in Americans’ salt intake
sleep, it deeply relaxes the body and the field of yoga
(about 1,200 milligrams of sodium)
quiets the mind in a profoundly in- psychology with
would result in 6 percent fewer cases
tense way while allowing the practitio- over twenty years
of new heart disease, 8 percent fewer
ner to remain conscious. In the hands of teaching world-
heart attacks and 3 percent fewer deaths.
of a skilled and well-trained Yoga wide. Join her on
Most of us now eat 9-12 grams
Nidra facilitator, these techniques can September 26th for a free session to
of salt a day. Both salt intake and
be structured to systematically take learn more and experience the extraor-
blood pressure levels are up about 50
the practitioner to alpha and theta dinary restorative benefits of Yoga
percent since the 1970s; researchers
brain wave states, empowering the Nidra. Please call 602-843-PURA or
identify commercially processed foods
body to optimize its innate healing visit YogaPura.com for details. Kamini
as the culprit.
capacity. will be conducting Arizona’s first in-
In addition, Yoga Nidra tech- tensive Yoga Nidra Facilitator Training
Source: American Heart Association, 2009
niques have been shown to increase this fall. KaminiDesai.com.
September 2009 13
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