Yoga Nidra References
The following studies display the power of Yoga Nidra for things like stress, anxiety, depression, body shame, low self-esteem, PTSD, emotional reactivity, physical pain, insomnia, and more.
Outcome of yoga nidra practice of various mental health problems and general wellbeing: a review study — “Yoga nidra effectively provides impact on stress, anxiety levels, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms like rage and anxiety and increased feelings of relaxation and peace after yoga nidra as a therapy.”
Effect of yoga nidra on the self-esteem and body image of burn patients — “It has been observed that yoga practice increases self-esteem and improves the body image of burn patients significantly.”
Delivering Integrative Restoration-Yoga Nidra Meditation (iRest®) to Women with Sexual Trauma at a Veteran's Medical Center: A Pilot Study — “Completers reported significant decreases in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder... Participants also offered verbal reports of decreased body tension, improved quality of sleep, improved ability to handle intrusive thoughts, improved ability to manage stress, and an increased feeling of joy.”
Transforming Trauma: A Qualitative Feasibility Study of Integrative Restoration (iRest) Yoga Nidra on Combat Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — “[Those that completed] the study reported reduced rage, anxiety, and emotional reactivity, and increased feelings of relaxation, peace, self-awareness, and self-efficacy, despite challenges with mental focus, intrusive memories, and other concerns.”
Evaluation of an Integrative Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Program — Results demonstrated a highly statistically significant effect of Yoga Nidra on PTSD. “The treatment program has served ∼800 service members since inception and has since expanded to five installations.”
Increased dopamine tone during meditation-induced change of consciousness — Participants saw a 65% increase in dopamine during Yoga Nidra.
The effect of yoga nidra in the management of rheumatoid arthritis — “The practice of Yoganidra showed significant clinical relief in pain, tenderness, stiffness and swelling of the joint in all patients taken under trial. Those patients reported feeling of well being lightness in the body, improvement in mental tension, muscular tension & emotional tension.”
Effect of yoga-nidra on blood glucose level in diabetic patients — “Results of this study showed that most of the [diabetes] symptoms were subsided, and fall of mean blood glucose level was significant after three months of Yoga-nidra.”
Impact of Yoga Nidra on psychological general wellbeing in patients with menstrual irregularities: A randomized controlled trial — “Anxiety decreased significantly and depression decreased significantly in the Yoga group. Positive wellbeing and general health improved significantly, and vitality improved significantly after six months of Yoga therapy (Yoga Nidra) in the Yoga group compared with the control group.”
Yoga Nidra: An innovative approach for management of chronic insomnia- A case report — “There was an improvement in sleep quality, insomnia severity, depression anxiety and stress scores after yoga nidra. The improvement remained even after 3 months of start of intervention.”
Effects of a yoga nidra on the life stress and self-esteem in university students — “The yoga nidra group showed significantly decreased life stress intensity levels compared to the control group. The yoga group also showed significantly increased self-esteem scores compared to the control group.”
Effect of Yoga-nidra on Adolescents Well-being: A Mixed Method Study — “Participants reported significant improvement in the feelings of happiness, enthusiasm, quietude, being more inspired and alert, active, having clarity of thought, control over anger, and self-confidence at the end of the study period.”
EEG Derived Neuronal Dynamics during Meditation: Progress and Challenges — People that practiced Yoga Nidra showed increased alpha and theta brainwave activity. Practitioners were more easily able to access the dreamlike theta states associated with openness, creativity, and self-connection.