A Sacred Space to Rest: What Is Christian Yoga Nidra?
What if rest wasn’t just something we squeezed into the margins of our lives, but a sacred practice?
In a world constantly asking us to do more, produce more, and go faster, rest can feel like a luxury. Or worse, laziness. But in Scripture, we see something different. Rest is part of God’s rhythm. It’s a command, a gift, and a way back to ourselves and to the One who made us.
That’s why I’ve come to love the practice of Christian Yoga Nidra.
This gentle, restorative practice isn’t about stretching or strengthening. It’s about stillness. Presence. Deep release. It’s a space to be with God, just as we are, without needing to perform, fix, or strive. A space of true rest for the body, mind, and soul.
What Is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is often called “yogic sleep,” but it’s not quite sleeping. It’s a guided prayer practice that invites you into a restful, meditative state between waking and sleep. For some, it feels like drifting just below the surface of consciousness. For others, it’s a space of deep presence, prayer, or silence.
We usually practice Yoga Nidra lying down, supported by props such as pillows, blankets, and bolsters. The idea is to be as comfortable as possible so your body can fully relax.
During the practice, we move through different layers of awareness: noticing the body, the breath, sensations, thoughts, emotions, and the spirit. Sometimes we include a body scan or breath prayer. Other times, we simply rest in God’s presence without words.
It’s a space where we don’t have to figure anything out. We just get to be.
Rooted in Scripture, Not Escapism
This isn’t about zoning out or escaping life. It’s about entering into the presence of God with intention and trust.
In Psalm 46:10, God invites us, “Be still and know that I am God” (NIV). That’s what Yoga Nidra offers. It’s a chance to stop striving and simply know. To let God be God, and to let ourselves be human and be loved.
Jesus echoes this in Matthew 11:28–29:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls” (NIV).
Yoga Nidra becomes the physical space where we respond to that invitation.
Why Include the Body?
Rest isn’t just mental. It’s physical. Emotional. Spiritual. And all of that lives in our body.
Everything we carry throughout the day, the stress, anxiety, grief, excitement, overwhelm, gets stored in the body. If we try to think our way out of it, we usually end up stuck. But when we include the body in the process, something shifts.
We might notice how our shoulders are tight or our jaw is clenched. We might feel a heaviness in the chest or a flutter in the belly. These sensations are important—they’re part of our story and are trying to tell us something. Yoga Nidra creates space to truly slow down and feel them, listen to them, honor them, and invite God into them.
It’s not a magic formula. It’s a space-maker and a sacred rhythm. A rhythm that makes space for rest, healing, and connection.
A Practice of Noticing
One of the gifts of Christian Yoga Nidra is that it slows us down enough to notice.
We notice how the breath moves through the body.
We notice what we’re carrying emotionally or spiritually.
We notice what God might be whispering in the silence.
We don’t force anything. We don’t need to analyze. We simply notice, and in that noticing, healing often begins.
Sometimes a word or phrase from Scripture rises up in the quiet. Sometimes tears come. Sometimes there’s nothing but the rhythm of the breath. And that’s enough.
What Does a Nidra Practice Look Like?
A typical Christian Yoga Nidra practice begins by preparing your space. You might dim the lights, light a candle, or wrap yourself in a blanket. The environment matters because you’re giving our body permission to rest.
Then, we lie back with support under the knees or back if that’s helpful, eyes closed, and begin to listen.
The guide (that’s us!) leads you through practices such as:
- A centering breath or breath prayer
- A body scan to notice each part of the body without judgment
- Gentle imagery or reflection
- A short Scripture or reminder of God’s presence
- Space to rest in silence with God
We always bring it back to our intention: to rest, to release, to return to the presence of God.
Why We Offer It
We offer Christian Yoga Nidra because we’ve experienced how much we need it.
For those of us living with anxiety, trauma, or simply the exhaustion of modern life, finding rest isn’t easy. We want to pray, but our mind won’t slow down. We want to connect with God, but we’re so depleted. You might just find that sleep is difficult to come by.
Yoga Nidra has become a bridge.
It’s a doorway into stillness. It helps us settle enough to hear what God might be saying or to simply rest in the assurance that we are held, loved, and not alone.
For us, it’s not just relaxation. It’s spiritual formation. It’s time with God.
Who Is It For?
Everyone.
You don’t have to be a yogi. You don’t have to be flexible. You don’t even have to stay awake the whole time.
Whether you’re a parent needing rest, a pastor needing to refuel, someone walking through grief or stress, or someone looking for a few minutes of intentional space, Christian Yoga Nidra is for you.
It’s for anyone who needs a safe, sacred space to let go, be still, and breathe.
A Few Tips for Practice
Use props. Support under the knees, back, or head can make a huge difference.
Make it cozy. Blankets, dim lights, and soft music can help the body relax.
Choose a time that works. Before bed is perfect, but a midday reset can be powerful too.
Let go of expectations. There’s no “right way” to experience it. Just show up and be open.
A Final Word
We believe rest is holy and is a gift from God. We are told to rest. God built it into the rhythms of our body and the creation.
We believe the body matters.
We believe God wants to meet you in the stillness.
Christian Yoga Nidra is one of the gentlest and most powerful ways we’ve found to make space for that.
So whether you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or just craving some quiet space to breathe and be, this practice is for you.
You can try a free Christian Yoga Nidra practice with us on our YouTube channel, or explore a growing library of Scripture-based guided rest practices inside our membership.
No pressure. Just an invitation.
Come and rest. You are welcome here.
