Yoga nidra (YN) practice aims to induce a deeply relaxed state akin to sleep while maintaining heightened awareness. Despite the growing interest in its clinical applications, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying neural correlates of the practice of YN remains largely unexplored. In this fMRI investigation, we aim to discover the differences between wakeful resting states and states attained during YN practice. The study included individuals experienced in meditation and/or yogic practices, referred to as \'meditators\' (n = 30), and novice controls (n = 31). The GLM analysis, based on audio instructions, demonstrated activation related to auditory cues without concurrent default mode network (DMN) deactivation. DMN seed based functional connectivity (FC) analysis revealed significant reductions in connectivity among meditators during YN as compared to controls. We did not find differences between the two groups during the pre and post resting state scans. Moreover, when DMN-FC was compared between the YN state and resting state, meditators showed distinct decoupling, whereas controls showed increased DMN-FC. Finally, participants exhibit a remarkable correlation between reduced DMN connectivity during YN and self-reported hours of cumulative meditation and yoga practice. Together, these results suggest a unique neural modulation of the DMN in meditators during YN which results in being restful yet aware, aligned with their subjective experience of the practice. The study deepens our understanding of the neural mechanisms of YN, revealing distinct DMN connectivity decoupling in meditators and its relationship with meditation and yoga experience. These findings have interdisciplinary implications for neuroscience, psychology, and yogic disciplines.

Mental health disorders are treated with all the available advanced health techniques. The pioneers of Indian philosophy, sages, saints, and yogis, through their experiences and rational explanations, expressed the importance of yoga, and their treatment effects. Yoga-Nidra (YN), one of a particular forms of yoga, is described as a simple and precise way of dealing with mental disorders. The use of YN as an intervention has been reported to reduce anxiety, anger, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other different kinds of psycho-physiological abnormalities. In addition to the role of Yoga-Nidra as an intervention tool, it also brings relaxation to the mind and brain, mental catharsis, a positive attitude, self-improvement, and personality refinement. At the same time, YN contributes to boost concentration, memory, and other cognitive capacities, including attention, and thoughts. Because of its important therapeutic contribution to psychological well-being and mental health, it is currently used as a therapy and medical intervention. Yoga-Nidra and other yogic practices will play an important role in treating mental, physical, and psychological problems and improving cognitive abilities, and will help to connect with oneself.

UNASSIGNED: Post-menopausal life is fairly long period of life that is marked by poor health and sleep. Fatigue amidst extraordinary pandemic stress had taken a toll on the sleep quality and overall wellbeing. Yogic sleep can be instrumental in relaxing the brain and help in achieving self-control of mind and body in the post-menopausal life. This can be a non-pharmacological intervention to improve the wellbeing of women.
UNASSIGNED: Effect of 24 weeks of yoga-nidra practice and exercise module was tested in a post-menopausal subject after taking baseline of 4 weeks on parameters like sleep latency, total sleep time, mood on waking and during day, BMI, and activity rhythm of body using 24 h actigraphy and sleep diary.
UNASSIGNED: After administering the dual protocol, there was remarkable elevation in mood both on waking up and entire day from 5th week onwards. Mood shifted toward a happier state. Latency to sleep decreased after 4 weeks, while total sleep time improved only after 16 weeks of dual management strategy. The BMI was also reduced to 28.4 from initial value of 30.3. Morning awakening patterns did not change, but it was not accompanied by pain or headache.
UNASSIGNED: The results indicated the therapeutic potential of yoga-nidra and exercise package in this actigraphy-based longitudinal pilot study. Yoga-nidra can be easily practiced at home, and thus, it is a promising non-pharmacological strategy for aging population in improving their wellbeing.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent well-being is a priority area for health-care interventions in the 21st century. Yoga-nidra is an ancient Indian method of enabling individuals to attain a positive state of deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. The practice produces a state of simultaneous relaxation and detachment resulting in inner awareness and release of stress on all planes of one\'s being.
OBJECTIVE: This mixed method study was carried out in adolescent students aged 13-15 years with an aim to assess effects of Yoga-nidra on various dimensions of well-being.
METHODS: Thirty-six students received Yoga-nidra sessions 30 min daily for 3 days in a week for 1 month. Primary outcome measures were happiness, perceived stress, overall quality of life, and psychological general well-being. These and other experiential dimensions of well-being comprising of enthusiasm, alertness, quietude, clarity of thought, control over anger, self-confidence, and self-awareness were evaluated before and after intervention. Qualitative observations were recorded from participants, their teachers, and parents. Results of quantitative and qualitative methods were analyzed and compared.
RESULTS: Yoga-nidra intervention resulted in significant improvement in all primary outcome measures. 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. Mixed method design of the study provided cross-validation and convergence of results obtained from quantitative and qualitative assessment tools.
CONCLUSIONS: Yoga-nidra is beneficial in improving multiple dimensions of adolescent well-being.

OBJECTIVE: There is evidence that yoga practice is associated with decreased stress, worry, and depression, and with improved mindfulness-based skills. These findings had not been previously replicated for a sample of college students. This study evaluated whether iRest yoga-nidra practice was associated with reduced perceived stress, worry, and depression, and increased mindfulness in a sample of college student s.
METHODS: Sixty-six students age 18-56 completed an 8-week iRest yoga-nidra intervention that was offered for 8 semesters. Assessment occurred 1 week prior to intervention onset and during the class period following the intervention. Qualitative data were collected at Weeks 4 and 8.
RESULTS: Statistically significant pre- to posttest improvements in perceived stress, worry, and depression were found. Pre-existing depression accounted for most of the change in worry and perceived stress scores. Pre- to post test improvements in mindfulness-based skills were also detected.
CONCLUSIONS: iRest yoga-nidra practice may reduce symptoms of perceived stress, worry, and depression and increase mindfulness-based skills.