Explore the deep relaxing and healing effects of Yoga Nidra with Matsyendra! In this workshop the history, science, philosophy, and techniques of this wonderful practice will be shared by Matsyendra, who has more than 20 years of experience in this field.

Dates: Friday 16 Sep 2022
Time: 19 - 21.30hr
Costs: € 45
Location: YogaYatra Studio, Amsterdam-De Pijp

The execution of the Yoga Nidra Workshop will take place under our Studio Corona Protocol which all participants will need to follow.

About Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is the art, science, and practice of deep relaxation. Nidra means sleep, but it is more of a state between sleep and wakefulness. References to the state of Yoga Nidra can be traced back thousands of years and has been reintroduced as a practice by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. It is generally practiced in Shavasana, corpse pose (the lying down in final relaxation at the end of your yoga class!), and can last up to 40 minutes. This asana, though the most basic of postures, is the key to awareness of the deep sleep state. During Yoga Nidra, an altered state of consciousness is achieved where the alpha brain wave length is prolonged, which is associated with a relaxed and detached awareness, and is considered the gateway to meditation as it is the link between the conscious and the subconscious mind.

"At the point of meaningful rest when sleep has not yet come and external wakefulness vanishes, at this point being is revealed." ~ Vigyana Bhairava Tantra

In the Yoga Nidra practice you lie still in Shavasana without falling asleep. A guided journey through the body, its senses, and the different levels of our being is given to maintain awareness, while the mind fluctuates between the conscious and subconscious. Through relaxing deeply physically, mentally and emotionally, the energy normally required for these activities is available to restore a balance to our systems.

"The mind can be made steady by giving it the knowledge of dream and sleep for support." ~ Patanjalis Yoga Sutras, 1:38

To get an idea of what Yoga Nidra is all about and how deeply relaxing it is, join this half hour Yoga Nidra session on YouTube!

About Matsyendra

Matsyendra teaches from and to the heart, connecting the outer yoga of posture and breath to the inner yoga of concentration and meditation. Teaching the classical style of Hatha Yoga, it is influenced by his own practice of Kundalini Tantra and Kriya Yoga.

Originally from England, Matsyendra has been teaching yoga and meditation for over 20 years. For ten years he lived in the Scandinavian ashrams of Swami Janakananda. He subsequently ran his own independent yoga center in Copenhagen for several years and has recently relocated to Amsterdam to carry on sharing the gifts of yoga.

The universe of yoga first opened up to him after hitch hiking to India in 1989, where he was invited to the Maha Kumbha Mela, a gathering of saints, sadhus, and shamen held every 12 years at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers.

Workshop Preparation

Dress in comfortably sitting warm clothes with warm socks and bring something warm like a shawl/blanket, to keep you warm during the session/while lying down. A small bottle of water will be nice for refreshment, although tea and water will be available at the workshop. Please also bring your own mat if you have one (note if you haven’t got one, we arrange one for you), as it is nice to lie on 2 mats for extra padding. We will also provide futons, mats, bolsters, and blankets in the studio. Good tip is also to bring a sleeping bag for extra padding! To make notes during the workshop, bring a note book and pen. (Note whilst the studio is open during corona, for hygiene reasons you have to bring your own mat & props to the studio, and we can no longer serve tea (bring your own water bottle) - please follow our Studio Corona Protocol).

Subscription & Payment

You can subscribe yourself for the workshop by filling in the booking form below (with respect to the data you supply to us, we refer to our Privacy Policy). You will receive a registration email with our bank details. To hold a spot for you in the workshop, the payment of € 45 is due within 8 days of your subscription. Your subscription will be confirmed again, as soon as your payment has been received.

Cancellation policy: no refunds will be granted for cancellations or for failure to attend the workshop, regardless of reason.