During this program led by staff from VYASA Houston, a nonprofit yoga school dedicated to community service through yoga research and education, participants gain an understanding about how yoga nidra — or yogic sleep — works, the many benefits it has to offer, and why it is integral to both a balanced yoga practice and a harmonious life. This powerful practice induces a complete state of physical, mental and emotional relaxation. 

Smitha Mallaiah (assistant director VYASA Houston and mind-body intervention specialist, integrative medicine program, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center) presents a talk about yoga nidra, a practice thought to provide practitioners means to access a deeper level of inner awareness and equanimity; to receive deep physical and mental restoration; to release unwanted habits, conditioned behaviors, tensions and self-limiting beliefs; and to awaken one's greatest inner potential.

Then, Nanjundappa, director VYASA Houston, leads a short and gentle asana (posture) practice to begin releasing tension in the body prior to the nidra practice, a 30-minute guided meditation in savasana (corpse pose).

The event takes place in the American General Conference Room on the mezzanine level of the Audrey Jones Beck Building.