Yoga Nidra is a qualitatively different ‘sleep’. It alters the state of the mind and its consciousness. When you practice Yoga Nidra, you let go of everyday tensions in order to attain a more peaceful state. Even though the literal translation of Yoga Nidra is yogic sleep, it’s not about being asleep. Rather, it is about being in a relaxed state of awareness while being awake. Yoga Nidra is based on the esoteric Vedic science of yoga. Unlike yoga, however, Yoga Nidra is not the traditional practice of aasans, but the practice of mind control to be able to go to sleep. What people often do not realize is that sleep does not always equal relaxation. Sleep is a function of the restfulness of the mind. If the mind is not at rest, then sleep is elusive. The practice of Yoga Nidra puts the mind to rest, making it possible to attain deep, restful, peaceful sleep. When you practice Yoga Nidra you can unlock hitherto untouched parts of your mind. It is a meditative practice that can assist you in going beyond the conscious level. In addition to helping you relax in the true sense of the word, the practice of Yoga Nidra has a number of health benefits. It is effective in helping people deal with addictions, sleep disorders and stress. It can lower blood pressure and improve the immune system. Yoga Nidra can aid in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders such as asthma, migraine and ulcers. It is also preventive in nature, helping to protect against the occurrence of stress-induced problems such as insomnia.