Glossary · Yoga Nidra
Definition
Swami Satyananda Saraswati (1923–2009) was an Indian yoga teacher and founder of the Bihar School of Yoga. He developed Yoga Nidra into the structured, guided method practised worldwide today and wrote the standard work on it in 1976.
Amela Merdovic · Complementary therapist · Updated 22 September 2026
Satyananda based Yoga Nidra on ancient tantric techniques and translated them into set steps anyone can follow: sankalpa, rotation of consciousness, breath and images.
Later, variants emerged, such as iRest. The core stayed the same: deep rest while remaining aware.