As a yoga nidra instructor, you want to be the best you can be for your clients. Your fellow instructors would expect nothing less. But as you know, yoga is not just a physical practice. It is not just a business or something you offer to help people feel good. Yoga is a way of life. It’s intended to be integrated into every aspect of the daily routine. So as an instructor, you need to take your yoga nidra practice off the mat.
What does that mean? It means applying the principles and philosophies of yoga nidra beyond the classroom. It means applying them even when you are not practicing yourself. Of course, the fact that you are a constructor means you probably already know this. But a good reminder every now and again never hurts.
Make Mindfulness a Priority
Scott Moore is an international yoga educator and a mentor to other yoga nidra teachers looking to expand their businesses. He even helps professionals who are not involved in yoga be better versions of themselves. One of the primary practices he teaches all his clients is mindfulness.
It’s not just the practice of mindfulness. Moore encourages students and mentees to make mindfulness a priority. He encourages learning and practicing mindfulness until it’s possible to be present in the moment at any time – whether you are having a conversation, performing a work or home task, or simply sitting with a cup of tea.
Prioritizing mindfulness will reduce your own stress and increase your awareness. It will allow you to respond to situations with clarity and compassion. And in the midst of any daily challenge, a few minutes of mindfulness can bring calm, peace, and contentment.
Practice Controlled Breathing
Controlled breathing is one of the tools yoga practitioners utilize to relax. By focusing on a particular breathing practice, the mind refocuses inward and the body relaxes. Take a few minutes each day to practice a little bit of breathwork. Even fifteen minutes of breathwork can allow you to set aside all those external influences and visualize your place of peace. It is a terrific way to refocus and regain your center.
Practice Compassion Daily
Although your students may not recognize it, you know that compassion is a big part of yoga nidra. It’s actually part of every form of yoga. You practice compassion toward yourself as you get in touch with the innermost part of who you are. And through the premise of mindfulness – that you exist in the moment with no judgment – you give yourself freedom to be who you are at your core. Now, practice that with other people.
Give those around you space to be who they are. When you meet someone having a rough day, encourage him or her. Show kindness whenever the opportunity presents itself. By showing others compassion, you will be extending to them what you seek for yourself in the midst of a yoga nidra session. Compassion is good for the body, mind, and soul.
A Better You Is a Better Instructor
Taking your yoga practice off the mat is a way of incorporating what you know about yoga nidra into the rest of your life. You already know how to do that. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be an instructor. But every instructor needs a healthy reminder from time to time. Life happens. We forget.
Consider this post as your latest reminder to be the best you can be. Remember to take yoga with you wherever you go and no matter what you are doing. Remember that a better you is a better instructor.