Every day, our minds bear the brunt of modern life—constant stress, endless to-do lists, and the unrelenting hum of digital noise. We’re overloaded, overstimulated, and often running on fumes. Sometimes, what we crave isn’t just a break but a full detox—a moment of silence to untangle the knots of our thoughts and be. The beauty of stillness, of letting go, is within reach, yet many of us overlook one powerful tool to reset: Yoga Nidra.
Unlike classic Hatha yoga, where the body flows through dynamic asanas, Yoga Nidra takes a different route to balance and peace. Rare and often underestimated, this practice offers an accessible yet profound way to quiet the mind, release tension, and reconnect with our inner calm. It’s not about bending or stretching; it’s about pausing, listening, and finding clarity in quiet spaces. With Yoga Nidra, you don’t just relax—you transform.
A Journey into I AM Yoga Nidra.
Recently, I met a beautiful soul, Carolina Revelli, who was given the spiritual name Shakti by her living guru, Yogi Amrit Desai (amrityoga.org). She is a devoted practitioner of
I AM Yoga Nidra™ is recognized as one of the five leading schools of Yoga Nidra, renowned for its immersive and high-quality training programs developed over the past twenty years.
Shakti shared her story and the incredible details of how this practice has shaped her life and touched the lives of those she teaches. Through her journey, it became clear that I AM Yoga Nidra is more than a method—it is a pathway to deep healing and self-discovery, guided by wisdom and experience that has stood the test of time.
Shakti’s spiritual journey began in 1974 when her family moved into the Light of Yoga Society ashram in Sarasota, Florida. Her childhood was shaped by the teachings of Alice Christensen, whose gurus included Swami Rama of Haridwar and Swami Laksmanjoo, a Shaivite Master with a lineage spanning 2000 years. My mother and her husband were students and teachers at the ashram,” Shakti explained, “my brother and I were the only children allowed to live on the property. It was a beautiful, spiritual way to grow up.”
Though Shakti led a more typical life after her early years in the ashram, she returned to her yogic roots at 19, seeking a balance between the outer world and her inner yogic world. “Later, in 2019, a profound personal experience deepened my spiritual path,” she said.
In 2022, Shakti traveled to India to visit Swami Rama’s ashram, Ramkunj, in the Ganges, India. “This year, on March 9, 2024, I met my current guru, Master Yogi Amrit Desai. Meeting him caused a major paradigm shift in my life.” Over the next eight months, Shakti became a close disciple, was initiated into his lineage, and earned certification in I Am Yoga Nidra, created by Yogi Amrit Desai, who founded the Amrit Yoga Institute and Kripalu Institute.
Now, Shakti teaches her I AM Yoga Nidra classes every Monday at 6 PM at Prana Yoga and Healing Center, pranayogasarasota.com, where she hopes to share the transformative energy of this practice with others. (The studio also offers Iyengar-inspired Yoga Wall classes, utilizing wall-mounted straps to enhance alignment, flexibility, and strength in your yoga practice).
Why I AM Yoga Nidra?
For Shakti, I AM Yoga Nidra wasn’t just another wellness trend—it was a life-changing discovery. “Before meeting Gurudev, I listened to his I AM Yoga Nidra recordings on YouTube,” she shared. “Even through his recorded voice, I experienced energetic shifts and visions. That showed me how powerful this practice is. Yogi Amrit Desai is an energetic master who has developed his yogic techniques for over 50 years, dedicating his life to helping people awaken to their inner guide and tap into their energy Source, ' Prana Shakti.’ Gurudev will return to Prana Yoga and Healing Center on March 1, 2025; I am so excited!”
Gurudev’s I AM Yoga Nidra allowed Shakti to access a higher state of consciousness. “It’s not just a relaxation technique—it’s a way to integrate the physical, mental, and emotional layers of yourself and experience profound healing.”
Breaking Down Yoga Nidra.
Yoga Nidra is often called “yogic sleep,” but it’s much more than that for those unfamiliar. Shakti explained, “It brings you to a twilight state between wakefulness and sleep. In this space, the ego mind quiets, and you can make deep psychological and behavioral changes by letting go of past painful memory events.”
Through the I AM Yoga Nidra practice, students learn to observe their thoughts without reacting to them. Shakti describes this as becoming “the unchanging background behind your thoughts.” This detachment helps release energy blocks caused by painful memories from the past, fostering emotional balance and restoring inner peace.
Who Can Practice Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is uniquely accessible. “Anyone can do it,” Shakti emphasized. “You don’t need to strain your body or leave your home. It’s versatile—you can practice it lying down, sitting, or even at your desk. The I AM Yoga Nidra classes Shakti teaches are conducted lying on a mat with pillows, ensuring participants are comfortable and still. This makes it particularly beneficial for those struggling with stress, anxiety, chronic pain, or insomnia. “More people can benefit from it than any other form of yoga,” Shakti said.
When asked whether Yoga Nidra is a form of meditation, Shakti clarified: “It’s not just a form of meditation—it’s one of the deepest forms. It takes you to the deepest levels of consciousness quickly.”
Shakti’s story highlights the profound impact of the I AM Yoga Nidra practice—not just as a relaxation tool but as a transformative practice. It offers an opportunity to release long-held tensions, reframe one's mindset, and reconnect with one's true self.
In her words: “Once you feel the Shakti energy this practice can bring, and you experience how joyous life can be, you just want to share it with everyone.”
Photos: iruphotos.com
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