Aronidra (Psychic Sleep)

     "Aronidra" is a method of meditation adapted; integrating yogic breathing by inhaling steam distilled essential oils. The relaxing effect of essential oils activates the subconscious mind by shutting down or relaxing the conscious mind.  Aronidra eliminates all stress related disorders bringing about a total transformation and optimistic approach to life. It has the ability to cure acute and chronic physical and psychological illness. It is the key to penetrate the latent realms of mind, and train the mental faculty to access the tremendous powers of the subconscious mind. During "Aronidra", the body, mind and intellect are completely relaxed with the sub conscious mind awakened at a deeper level. Hence "Aronidra" is 'dynamic sleep' or 'psychic sleep' which enables the practitioner physical, mental and emotional relaxation; at the same time exploring the tremendous powers of the subconscious and unconscious mind.

     In this deep relaxation state of Aronidra, the mind is in a state between sleep and wakefulness, with the subconscious mind more active than the conscious mind.  By practicing Aronidra you can completely train your subconscious mind. Then the ordinary conscious mind and intellect will follow suit. The subconscious and the unconscious minds are the most powerful forces in a human being. In Aronidra you learn how to access these powerful forces to gain knowledge, cure diseases, increase creativity, and to realize your true self. When the consciousness is connected to all the senses, the receptivity is less while in the deep state of relaxation, the senses are withdrawn and the receptivity is much greater. When you withdraw your mind from the outer world, you are neither in deep sleep nor completely awake, whatever impressions you plant at that time grow and enrich your life.

     Aronidra is an ancient practice that is intended to induce full-body relaxation and a deep meditative state of consciousness. Aronidra is a systematic method of complete relaxation, holistically addressing our physiological, neurological, and subconscious needs.  The yoga teachers use variety of techniques-including guided imagery and body scanning to aid relaxation. However in Aronidra, mind is allowed to travel through our internal connections of the brain to different organs of our body.  Aronidra allows enough time for practitioners to physiologically and psychologically sink into deep relaxation.  The practitioner begins by quieting the overactive conscious mind, and then moves into a meditative state, gradually finding a state of "ultimate harmony," in which the brain waves slow down and a subtle euphoria emerges. Though most practitioners are able to slip into deep sleep, they are not able to return to the wakeful stage at the end of the practice. They still tend to emerge feeling rejuvenated. "Aronidra uniquely unwinds the nervous system, which is the foundation of the body's well-being.

     In order to practice Aronidra, you need to know the basics of Yoga. There is no difference between the yogic sleep other than enhancing oxygen content into the inhaled air enriched with pure essential oil.   Practiced in the lying position, it is one of the most popular meditation techniques because it induces profoundly deep state of rest. It is effortless, enjoyable, soothing and recuperative. Aronidra takes your awareness deep into your internal organs that you normally cannot access because of tensions.  Removing tensions allows you to penetrate your awareness into the unconscious areas of yourself. You become aware of and can connect to your inner abilities and potential. This expands your sense of self by expanding your awareness of the deeper and subtler parts of you.

     Various centers in the brain control, modify, and affect our bodily functions through its neuronal pathways. In fact, there is a center in the brain for every act, whether willful or reflex, physical or mental. Experimental data have identified many such specific centers. Stimulation of these centers leads to appropriate actions, be they motor or sensory, secretary or emotive, affective or cognitive. Thus we have a holographic representation of the body on the brain. In Aronidra the exactly opposite process is used to make the brain centers active by focusing awareness on the internal parts of the body in a definite sequence. Thus, the person tries to stimulate various parts of the brain by focusing the awareness on the corresponding parts of the body. Scientific experiments with Yoga demonstrate that our brain waves measured on advanced practitioners follow the exact pattern during Yoga meditation as they would during regular sleep but much more relaxed and controlled.

     Amongst the numerous fascinating aspects of the Aronidra state is that advanced practitioners develop the ability to remain fully awake and aware and yet fully asleep.  In other words you become aware as an external witness of your entire physical, mental and emotional experience, and it is from this perspective that you are able to see or feel and or experience some of the many aspects and absurdities that affect your bliss, be they past, present or future projections and influences.

     Once the Aronidra practitioner reaches the deepest state of physical and mental relaxation the mind becomes receptive to new concepts. By reaching this stage through the specific sequence of mind-activating visualizations, one will access the subconscious part of the mind which is in fact our controlling aspect processing around 4 billion bits of data while the conscious mind can only handle around 4 bits. This gives us a unique opportunity to effectively implant an affirmation of our choice.

     Aronidra usually takes twenty to forty five minutes to complete. The process is carried out by first practicing a few yogic postures, then lying on the back in shavasana (corpse pose). Eyes are lightly closed, arms are kept with palms facing upwards, and breathing is natural and quiet.