Swami Janakananda:
“During Yoga Nidra the relaxation is constantly deepened while you follow the instructions and devote yourself to the experience. The body starts to relax and the mind follows. When the mind relaxes, the relaxation of the body is further deepened. This interaction between body, mind, emotions and psychic energy is fundamental to yoga. It is a process that is brought about by Yoga Nidra. The Yoga Nidra technique is constructed in such a way that it constantly maintains and develops the relaxation process at all levels of consciousness. Therefore Yoga Nidra is often translated as conscious sleep, because although you are in a state as deep as sleep, you are mentally present.
The more familiar you become with Yoga Nidra, the easier it is to relax. As you come to know harmony, you are soon able to recall it instantly, when you need it – in the middle of daily activities.”

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Swami Rama:
“Yoga nidra is a state between sleep and Samadhi. It is a half-sleep and half-waking state: it is not a waking state, and it is not really a sleep state. Yoga nidra is a state of conscious sleep in which one can record what is going on. There is a fine demarcation between yoga nidra and Samadhi. In yoga nidra one can record those experiences which he cannot receive in the conscious state. When one cannot register something properly in thewaking state, they can go into yoga nidra to register it.’’

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Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati:
‘Yoga Nidra literally means "Yogic Sleep." In this deep meditation you train your attention to leave the chatter of the Waking state of mind, go past the fantasy of the Dreaming state, and consciously, intentionally enter the stillness of the Deep Sleep state, yet paradoxically remain awake and in deep meditation. (continued…) For thousands of years the Yogis have used Yoga Nidra to master the art of sleep, to balance the subtle energies, and to experience greater depths of meditation.

The state of conscious Deep Sleep or Yoga Nidra is underneath, behind, or subtler than meditations at either the Waking or Dreaming levels. This subtle state is called "Prajna," which means, "supreme knowing. (Pra means supreme; jna means knowing. The conscious experience of this state is a doorway to higher, formless knowing that has been called the infinite library of wisdom and the teacher within.

The depth of authentic Yoga Nidra comes from inner awareness of the levels of your own self, including your body, breath, and the subtler mind, rather than diverting attention through music or inner fantasies (as pleasant as these may be). This inner exploring through self-awareness is a more refined form of meditation that leads you deeper into the stillness and silence of your own being, while remaining fully awake. Yoga Nidra methods bring you to a place of awareness where you are able to completely let go of any words, thoughts, images, impressions, or pictures in the mind. You are guided to allow your mind to "empty, empty, empty" though you remain fully awake and clear of mind.’

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