Finding the Way to Rest

The life-changing power of yoga nidra

By Emma Rose
Desperate 3 a.m. decisions rarely change lives for the better. Kathryn Mikkelsen’s first experience with yoga nidra is an exception. 

In many respects, her story is a familiar one. A teacher for grades 7 through 12, Kate was deep into burnout and had been running on empty for weeks. 

She was and is the kind of person who gave of herself, but she felt like she had very little left. Add to that the trauma of living in Japan during the 2011 earthquake and subsequent evacuation, and Kate’s nervous system seemed permanently stuck in overdrive.

So at 3 a.m. after a marathon of insomnia and fitful sleep, Kate surfed the internet looking for something, anything that would help her relax and finally turn off her brain. What she found was yoga nidra — a style of guided meditation that brings practitioners to a deep state of rest.

“It was like a Hail Mary attempt. I just picked a thumbnail that looked pretty. The guide had a lot of followers, and I was like, that seems legit, let's give it a try. And it turned out to be the best thing I've ever done in my life.” 

That first yoga nidra meditation didn’t just help Kate finally fall asleep. Over weeks and months she used the guidance to regulate her nervous system and learn how to really and truly rest. 

Today she’s a yoga instructor at the Spiral Goddess Collective in Bangor, Maine and on the Insight Timer Meditation App. 

The Transformation Begins
The transformation from stressed-out school teacher to centered meditation and wellness coach took years, but it all started with that first YouTube video from a guide and teacher named Ally Boothroyd.

“I completely fell in love with her voice and the experience. I practiced every day and I fell asleep every day. It took me about four months before I could stay awake until the end of a meditation. And then I realized, oh, there’s a lot more going on here than just helping me sleep.”

She started to notice shifts in her thinking and overall mental state. Her mind and body seemed more connected. She was less reactive and, best of all, she was sleeping through the night. 

“I got very curious, because I like to try new things. I thought: this is so great. How come I've never heard of it?” 

So she joined the teacher training to learn more. Yoga Nidra teacher training, at least the kind Kate pursued, tends to be an immersive experience. You’re encouraged to go at your own pace and really deepen your practice along the way. 

“When I started the teacher training, I thought I had a pretty good handle on what yoga nidra was. About two months into the training, I realized I was like a snowflake on that iceberg. It goes so deep and there's so much potential in this practice.” 

She’s been exploring that potential through her personal practice and guided offerings ever since. 

Yoga Nidra--A Unique State of Consciousness
Along the way, Kate has adjusted her definition of what Yoga Nidra is. “I thought it was a type of guided meditation where somebody makes a script and reads it and another person listens and has a beautiful experience. But what I learned is that yoga nidra is actually a state of consciousness that is a combination of your body being deeply relaxed, similar to sleep, while you are still fully aware and alert. So it's a unique state of consciousness in between sleep and waking.”

It’s a state that many people in the modern world never quite access. With smart phones, 24-hour news cycles, and the demand to be always on keep nervous systems on high alert, the connection between mind and body frays and often it takes a medical emergency to make someone slow down.

In a world that desperately needs yoga nidra, it seems that few have ever even heard of it. Fortunately, scientists and researchers are starting to pay attention. Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman has incorporated some of the wisdom of yoga nidra into his non-sleep, deep rest (NSDR) protocol. 

One of the biggest advantages of yoga nidra is that it’s a completely drug-free intervention. The practice doesn’t require special tools or skills.

As Kate says, “If you've ever fallen asleep, you can do yoga nidra.”

Of course, the same cautions apply as with any meditation practice. Meditation can sometimes bring up difficult feelings, especially for people who have experienced trauma. If you’re actively in distress, other strategies might need to come first. 

You also need a quiet, undisturbed place to practice, which is why in-person classes like those offered at The Spiral Goddess Collective are especially valuable. The studio is a serene, welcoming space to practice away from the tasks and demands of home. As a bonus, practice happens among other people who are also seeking rest and peace in their lives.

Yoga Nidra at The Spiral Goddess Collective
The Spiral Goddess also hosts weekly classes in seated meditation, JourneyDance—a transformative movement practice, cardio dance, Kukuwa dance, and yoga. Special sessions include networking groups for radical careworkers, intentional tea service, and sonic yoga nidra, which combines yoga nidra with a sound bath played on crystal singing bowls. 

For upcoming yoga nidra meditation sessions visit The Spiral Goddess Collective’s Class Schedule or Kate’s website.