What if I fall asleep during Yoga Nidra? Does that mean I'm doing it wrong?

Not at all. Some people fall asleep, which is fine. If your body takes the sleep, it needed it. I take it as a compliment.

How is Yoga Nidra different from just lying down and relaxing?

It's guided. Rather than lying there alone with your thoughts, you follow my voice through the body and the breath. Whether that lands differently for you than plain rest is something you'll know within one class.

I've tried meditation and it makes my insomnia worse. I just lie there thinking. Will Yoga Nidra be the same?

Yoga Nidra gives you something to follow: my voice, moving your attention around the body. You're not trying to stop your thoughts. Many people who hate silent meditation get on fine with it, though I can't promise you will.

How quickly will I see improvements in my sleep?

I can't promise your sleep will improve, and I'd distrust anyone who does. Some students say they sleep well the night after a class. Try it and see what happens for you.

Can I practise Yoga Nidra at home before bed?

Yes, and I encourage it. Once you know the practice from class, there are plenty of free guided recordings online. Even ten minutes before bed is a pleasant habit, whatever else it does for you.

I take medication for sleep. Can I still do Yoga Nidra?

Yes. Yoga Nidra can sit alongside whatever you take. Any change to sleep medication belongs with your GP, not with a yoga teacher.

What about Gong Baths? Will the sound keep me awake?

The gong gives a busy mind something steady to listen to. Many people find that easier than silent meditation. Most find the sound restful rather than intrusive, but people respond differently, and you can lie further from the gong if you prefer it quieter.

Sleep and insomnia

When counting sheep doesn't work

Guided rest for people whose minds won't switch off at night.

Best for

✓Chronic insomnia and sleep problems
✓Racing mind at bedtime
✓Waking at 3am and can't get back to sleep
✓Exhaustion but unable to rest

What to expect

Guided deep relaxation lying down. Some students fall asleep during practice, which is fine. No movement, no effort.

A Yoga Nidra class, or a Gong Bath when one is listed

Recommended classes

View timetable

Three in the morning. Again. The ceiling. The clock. The dread of another exhausted day.

You've tried everything: sleep hygiene, no screens, magnesium, lavender, meditation apps. You can get your body into bed, but you can't get your mind to switch off. The harder you try to sleep, the more awake you become.

During the day you're running on fumes: foggy, irritable, forgetting things. You know sleep is supposed to be restful, but for you it's become a battleground. And you're losing.

How the class works

Yoga Nidra is a guided relaxation practice between waking and sleep. You follow my voice while lying down. Some people fall asleep, which is fine.

There's nothing to get right. You lie down under a blanket, I talk, and your only job is to listen for as long as you can. If you drift off, your body clearly wanted the sleep.

A Gong Bath is the no-effort alternative: you lie down and listen to the sound instead of a voice. Dates vary, so check Bookwhen for current dates.

Classes that help

Breathe.Meditate.Relax

Where the Yoga Nidra lives

·Lying down, fully supported with bolsters and blankets
·Guided body scan and deep relaxation
·A practice you can repeat at home before bed

Gong Bath & Sound Healing

Lie down. Sound does the rest.

·Steady sound for a busy mind to rest on
·No skill required, you just lie there
·Check Bookwhen for current dates

Yin Yoga

A slow hour for the evening

·Long-held, supported poses
·Quiet and unhurried
·A good wind-down

What the research says

1.There are studies on Yoga Nidra and sleep, but they tested specific research protocols, not my classes, so I won't pass their results off as mine.
2.What students tell me: many drift off during practice, and some say they sleep better that night. Their experience, not a guarantee.

If insomnia persists for more than a few weeks, or you suspect sleep apnoea or other medical conditions, consult your GP.

If you need more than yoga

Yoga helps a lot of people, but it isn't everything. If you need more, here's where I'd point you.

Your GP

Rule out sleep apnoea, restless leg syndrome, or hormonal causes

Talk to Luke

Psychodynamic therapy in Wallington

Croydon Talking Therapies

Offers CBT-i (cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia)

Mind in Croydon

Mental health support and sleep hygiene resources

Common questions

Come and lie down

An hour of guided rest, lying down under a blanket. See what your body does with it.

Book a gong bath or Yoga Nidra Email me

New students welcome. Bring your exhaustion.

Read about my training.