Literally translating to “yogic sleep,” Yoga Nidra focuses on relaxation and guided imagery to create a sense of deep rest and peace. It’s a perfect path for acclaimed U.K. flautist Terry Oldfield and his wife, yoga instructor and holistic health practitioner Soraya Saraswati. The Australian-born Saraswati spent eight years in an ashram before leaving to continue to pursue spiritual health practice and instruction, eventually joining Oldfield in a merging of love, healing, and music, and their collaboration on Yoga Nidra is infused with their universal love. With Oldfield’s flute providing minimal but highly effective accompaniment to Saraswati’s gentle, powerful, and easy-to-follow yoga breathing and visualization instruction, it’s as if they embody some astral set of parents soothing the tired, stressed world below them into a lulling afternoon trance.
Divided into three tracks of varying lengths, Saraswati knows how to not stress out her listeners with too much instruction, preferring to get us centered and then give us a series of comforting images that work like symbolic poetry to soothe the deeper regions of the soul, with Saraswati’s pleasant Aussie accent and intentionally slow, drowsy pronunciation ably lulling listeners into a contented alpha-wave flow. Oldfield’s flute comes in gently when Saraswati mentions, “If you are working with an affirmation, repeat it now silently three times.” Even if you didn’t think you were working with one, now might be a good time to bring one up. Whatever you manifest in that state is likely to occur.
In the second and third tracks Oldfield stretches out in some emotional, neo-classical directions, while Saraswati notes, “You are the witness, observing any spontaneous patterns.” She gently helps us activate the screen of the mind (chidakasha) with a string of images: “Smiling Buddha…pink lotus on a still lake, temple bells ringing…burning candle…coconut palms, wind in the trees.” When you follow along, this series of details accrues to create a sense of peace you can feel in your core of cores. Even if 10, 20, or 30 minutes is all you have to bring, Yoga Nidra is there for you. Like a patient set of cosmic parents, Oldfield’s soothing music and Saraswati’s loving guidance will make sure to get you back to your inner home and help you emerge replenished, soothed, and ready for whatever surprises life may bring.
Daily Om
