Self-Esteem and Yoga Nidra: Research

Self-esteem is a sense of confidence and worthiness. A healthy self-esteem is correlates to healthy relationships, achievements, and on overall sense of satisfaction in one’s life. Our level of self-esteem can vary, increasing and decreasing with the messages that we receive AND the ones that repeat to ourselves. Two recent studies show that yoga nidra can be part of building and maintaining healthy self-esteem.

Effects of a yoga nidra on the life stress and self-esteem in university students

We all know how challenging and stressful going to school gets. This study looked at the effects of yoga nidra on stress and self-esteems in university students. Forty students were selected for this study. 20 received bi-weekly, one-hour yoga nidra sessions for eight weeks. The other 20 were placed in a control group. The yoga nidra group showed significantly decreased life stress intensity levels and a significant increase in self-esteem scores when compared to the control group.

While this group was small, it warrants further investigation. You can do your own investigation with yoga nidra and discover if it decreases your stress and increases your self-esteem. Research studies edify the practices, but they do and mean nothing if you do not have your own experience with the practices.

Read the abstract here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31003664

Effect of yoga nidra on the self-esteem and body image of burn patients

This study looked at the effect of yoga nidra and the self-esteem and body image of burn patients at a hospital in Turkey. 110 adult patients participated in the study. The yoga nidra group received 30 minutes of practice three times a week for four weeks. At the end of the study, the yoga group showed a statistically significant increase in self-esteem and body perception. The control group showed a decline in body perception.

Again, we see an increase in self-esteem with the practice of yoga nidra. Burns can significantly change a person’s body image, for worse, as evidenced in the decrease in body perception in the control group. To see an increase in body perception in an extreme case like burn patients, image what it could do for someone without a severe disfigurement.

Read the abstract here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31003692

These studies invite us to invest in our own self-esteem and self-worth by developing a regular yoga nidra practice. Consider the effect of a regular practice of yoga nidra on high school and junior high school students. These are times when young ones seem to be at their most vulnerable to self-esteem issues and most likely to act out because of a lack of self-worth.

Learn how to create your own yoga nidra in our Sacred Rest: Yoga Nidra program.

About the Author

Rose Kress

Rose Kress ERYT-500, C-IAYT, YACEP, Owner/Director of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute, and author of Awakening Your Inner Radiance with LifeForce Yoga. She directs retreats and training programs on using LifeForce Yoga to manage your mood.

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