harmony Archives - Karen Nourizadeh

“Nidra” means sleep, but is distinguishable from the “sleep” we know of in the West. Yoga Nidra is “The Art of Conscious Relaxation”.

True relaxation without an external source prodding us into slower brain waves, has been one of the biggest challenges of our adult stress-filled lives. And what’s more is that most of the “relaxing” activities that our society engages in, don’t actually relax our mind and bodies, but merely stimulate the senses, which counters the intention to relax.

In a society where most individuals become victims or slaves to technology and the “instant-gratification” nation, stress-induced disorders have become epidemic or are on the rise, affecting the health of our people.

Enter center-stage, Yoga Nidra, or ‘psychic sleep’. ‘Psychic sleep’ is a state between wakefulness and dreams. It means that I, you or anyone else can self-induce our minds and bodies to receive relaxation beyond the active beta wavelengths that most of our brains are drowning in during waking hours. It means that not only can you slow the activity of your brain (inducing alpha, theta or delta wave-states) and mind through relaxing the body, but one can also actually heal present and past emotional, physical or psychological pain trapped in the subconscious and unconscious minds, thought to be more powerful than the conscious mind. It also means that diseases can be cured, the nature of the mind-personality can be re-structured and creative genius restored.

As the physical mediator of consciousness, the brain has a profound effect on one’s body as it links body, mind and emotion into one unit.

In a balanced person, the brain induces a harmonious unification between body, mind and emotion. But in a person who is hyper-active, stimulated or even traumatized, there is no balance between activity and receptivity, leaving an energetic residue or toxins in the body. Yoga nidra affects the brain and its chemical output while calming the nervous system through heightened awareness of the body. Specifically, the progressive movement of awareness of individual body parts, in a systematic manner, not only induces physical relaxation but can also clear all the nerve pathways to the brain. And for many of us, our mind’s manner of thinking and being is a result of childhood and adult conditioning, which tends to emphasize materialism and pleasuring the senses, while negatively impacting our health.

There are also numerous scientific studies showing the benefits of Nidra for pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety, cancer therapy, high blood pressure, aging, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory conditions, and much more.

If you’ve never tried Nidra, perhaps today’s the day? If you are interested in more information, please email me or comment below. A 45- minute complete practice is also available for purchase under “Digital Meditations”.

Namaste, and have a restful day!

Feeling rejected? Well, know you are in good company as every single person on this planet has experienced rejection in one form or another.

If you take rejection poorly, (I have vascilated between well and not so well), then you are putting value in the person or entity that has rejected you. More value than you put on yourself. If that is the case, then you are likely a people-pleaser or lack confidence in yourself and want people to like you. (No judgments, I’ve been there and still am to a degree.) Rejection means that the other person or being does not understand you or connect with you or themselves, perhaps, and it is therefore a useful tool to affirm that a harmonious relationship is not possible. That is wisdom. Other times rejection allows us to improve and try again. Again, wisdom. Or, perhaps rejection is an indication that something is not quite right, so it helps us to ‘wake up and smell the double espresso.’ Yup, wisdom. Instead of applying wisdom though, many view rejection as a permanent obstacle to our goals or desires and then, either give up or go to desperate measures with dire consequences to get what or who we want from life.

Rather than see it as an opportunity to transform, and become alchemical, many stay stuck in old beliefs systems that no longer work and keep us unconscious of our inner potential.

How one handles rejection is often indicative of the beliefs one holds. Often, a belief of pleasing others or being perfect, or feelings of abandonment provide a solid foundation for feeling unworthy, unlovable or unacceptable. Feelings of rejection are likely deeply seeded from our developmental years. It could be that we were abandoned, neglected, unloved or viewed as imperfect or ‘wrong’. But you must shine the light of consciousness on it with focused concentrated attention in order to see and release it.

Imagine if you could feel that rejection is a good thing, a wake-up call, or possess a mature understanding that balance could not be achieved, it’s beyond your control and that you have all that you need within you to walk your own path, vibrating in harmony with the energy of others, not against it. Believe in the Universe. Believe in you. Walk your path with courage fearlessly, and never doubt your self-worth.

It’s time to pull yourself up from your bootstraps, kick out the ‘pity partiers’ and throw yourself a party celebrating that you now know what doesn’t work. It doesn’t mean you’re wrong, bad or pathetic. Life is ever-changing and nothing lasts forever. If you can understand that letting go is one of the healthiest and wisest things (and also one of the most challenging things) you can do, you will begin to love yourself, organically, and know that you don’t have to be a victim of your life. Keep yourself in the Now and work with what’s in front of you. From the ordinary you can create extraordinary, just don’t give up. I tell myself this as much as anyone else, as I await to hear from some publishers this week!

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