"Yog Nidra has emerged as the best-known technique all over the world to induce complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation," says the study carried out by Haridwar- based Dev Sanskriti University.
It says yoga teachers and psychologists in India and abroad are prescribing the ancient practice as the best method of physical, mental and emotional healing in today's fast-paced and stressful lifestyle.
It is practised in the flat lying position of 'Shavasana' and follows the spoken instruction of Yoga instructor. The practice includes resolve, body part awareness, breath awareness and visualisation.
The results of the study, conducted by well-known author in the area of yogic science Kamakhya Kumar, show that Yog Nidra positively decreases stress levels in both males and females.
Yoga Nidra can be defined as a self-induced state of altered consciousness, which is neither total sleep nor total wakefulness, says the research.
"It is a state of awakened sleep, a state of conscious sleep induced by oneself through complete relaxation of the mind in which it can record what is going on not just on the conscious level but also on the sub-conscious," it says.
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Quoting from related studies carried out in the field by the University of Tel Aviv (Israel), the study says the yogic practise significantly lowered levels of serum cholesterol in cardiac patients in that country.
Even otherwise, the value of the practice of yogic relaxation in prevention of cardiovascular disease has been fairly well recognised and accepted, Pro-vice Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti University Chinmay Pandya told PTI.
Gayatri Chetna Kendras set up in Russia, US, South Africa and Australia by Vedmata Gayatri Trust headquartered in Haridwar, are teaching hundreds of people to practise Yog Nidra with great results, he said.