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Key Takeaways

  • Yoga nidra is a highly relaxing practice that can help improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety. Try Insight Timer app for guided sessions.
  • Caley Alyssa Yoga app offers a variety of yoga nidra sessions for different experience levels and goals. You can even learn to become a yoga nidra teacher.
  • Yoga Nidra: Relax & Meditate app provides a straightforward and simple approach to yoga nidra for beginners. Set reminders to incorporate it into your daily routine.

Yoga is a practice that has many different benefits and there's a wide variety of different yoga types, from Kundalini yoga, which includes breathwork and chanting, to Hatha yoga, which focuses on one pose at a time. Additionally, there is yoga nidra, which in simple terms means yogic sleep.

When you practice yoga nidra you'll be in a state of relaxation between waking and sleeping. Plus, it's great for those days when you want to spend an entire yoga session in the corpse pose. Below are the best mobile apps and online classes to teach you how to try this ancient technique.

1. Insight Timer

Insight Timer is a well-known app used for relaxing and sleeping, meditation, and general mindfulness activities. Additionally, it is also a popular app to learn more about the art of yoga, particularly yoga nidra.

The yoga nidra tracks or sessions range in length from 5 to 30 minutes or more. You can also filter through the tracks based on audio and type. Tap on the Events tab to keep track of any upcoming live yoga nidra events, where you can learn in real time from some of the best teachers in the world.

Since there are no yoga nidra live events just yet, you can try something different like face yoga to ease tension or restorative yoga for back pain.

Download: Insight Timer for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

2. Caley Alyssa Yoga

Created by yoga instructor Caley Alyssa, the Caley Alyssa Yoga app has everything a yoga nidra newbie or veteran needs. To get started with the app, choose your experience level and primary goal. From there you can browse through the various yoga nidra single sessions and programs.

The classes include choices like a 10-minute yoga nidra to reset your nervous system or an hour-long yoga nidra session for new beginnings. What's more, you can even join the Academy of Yogic Sleep if you want to learn to become a yoga nidra teacher yourself.

Besides the mobile app, Caley Alyssa has yoga classes available on the Alo Moves online platform, including a 20-minute yoga nidra beginner class for insomnia.

Download: Caley Alyssa Yoga for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

3. Yoga Nidra: Relax & Meditate

If you're completely new to yoga nidra, then it's best to keep the process as straightforward and simple as possible. You can do exactly that using the Yoga Nidra: Relax & Meditate app. Getting started is as easy as creating an account, tapping Begin Yoga Nidra, and then selecting how long you want to practice for.

You have the option to choose a session length between 5 and 60 minutes, but it is recommended that you first lay the foundations and work your way up. For best results, you can use the app to set reminders to ensure yoga nidra is a part of your daily schedule.

Download: Yoga Nidra for Android (Free, subscription available)

4. Sylvia Yoga

sylvia yoga online yoga nidra class

The Sylvia Yoga online platform features online yoga classes, events and workshops, and live Zoom sessions. And the instructor even teaches mindfulness meditation in the workplace. This 45-minute, audio-only yoga nidra online class is led by Sylvia herself and is suitable for all skill levels.

To ensure you're properly prepared for the class, you should lie down on the floor with blankets, a yoga mat, or a pillow for the utmost comfort. You do have to pay a small price to gain access to Sylvia's online class, but most of her single online classes are fairly priced, with most being as cheap as $10.

5. Yoga International

Whether you love classic yoga styles like Iyengar yoga or pranayama practices and mindfulness challenges, Yoga International has it all. When it comes to yoga nidra, this resource offers everything from yoga nidra classes and meditations to entire courses.

There are plenty of yoga nidra meditations to choose from; you just have to decide what you want to focus on, be it creativity and peace or stress and anxiety.

A must-try course is A Yogi's Secret To Sleep, which comprises nine yoga nidra classes totaling four hours. It's important to note that you do need to sign up for a paid membership to access all the yoga nidra classes, meditations, and courses. Fortunately, there is a convenient free trial first.

6. Ekhart Yoga

Yoga nidra is a deep form of relaxation that is the perfect at-home, passive yoga practice. With more than 4,500 online classes and over 50 dedicated to yoga nidra specifically, Ekhart Yoga is the place to find the practice perfect for you.

Moreover, the best part about these yoga nidra online classes is that they're suitable for all levels of experience. And it's easy to find the class for you: all you have to do is filter the search based on the teacher, class length, and specific use.

You can try a micro yoga nidra practice alongside popular teacher James Reeves or have a go at the 31-point and 61-point relaxation technique with the platform's founder, Esther Ekhart.

7. Gaia

For a massive library of original series, documentaries, films, yoga and meditation classes, and online workshops and events you need to visit the Gaia online platform. Among the online yoga and meditation classes you'll find several yoga nidra practices from certified yoga teachers like Jeremy Wolf, Hilary Jackendoff, and Uma Ashleigh Sergeant.

Fortunately, these yoga nidra practices don't require much exercise equipment except perhaps a yoga mat, blanket, eye pillow, and a yoga bolster pillow.

To start streaming yoga nidra from Gaia, you'll need to sign up and set up your membership first. Once you've signed up, you can watch from your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or TV.

8. Glo

From Hatha and Kundalini to postnatal and partner yoga, Glo offers thousands of live and on-demand online yoga classes to turn your living room into a yoga studio. There's even a range of electrifying online HIIT classes.

Glo offers a category dedicated to yoga nidra classes that you can use to relax and unwind or fall asleep. All the yoga nidra classes available from Glo are at a level one difficulty and no longer than 30 minutes, making them ideal for yoga nidra beginners.

On Glo's website, try Alex Artymiak's 10-minute yoga nidra class to rest your mind or Transform Your Story 30-minute class from Marc Laws II. Before signing up for a Glo membership, you have the option to try Glo's yoga nidra classes for free for seven days.

Drift Into a State of Rest and Relaxation Using Yoga Nidra

From improving sleep quality and strengthening immunity to improved self-awareness and reduced anxiety, yoga nidra can have some amazing benefits. In addition, almost everyone can practice yoga nidra, as all it consists of is lying down, listening to guided instructions, and then reaping the benefits for your mind, body, and soul.

So if you want to skip the challenging yoga classes and opt for something less demanding, try these online yoga nidra classes and apps.