ComplementaryLow Risk
iRest Yoga Nidra
Clinically standardised meditation protocol adopted by the US military for PTSD
What iRest Yoga Nidra is commonly used for
Conditions
Clinically standardised meditation protocol adopted by the US military for PTSD
What iRest Yoga Nidra is commonly used for
Conditions
Vidi · AI guide
Compare iRest Yoga Nidra with other supportive approaches and get questions to bring to a practitioner.
Gyfts is educational and cannot diagnose or replace care from a qualified professional.
The practice
iRest works through the principle of 'welcoming' — a non-reactive, witnessing awareness that allows the practitioner to experience body sensations, emotions, and thoughts without resistance or identification. This process parallels exposure-based approaches in psychotherapy, gradually reducing the emotional charge of traumatic material. The protocol's body-sensing component engages interoceptive awareness, while the systematic progression through layers of experience mirrors the yogic kosha (sheath) model. Neurologically, the practice is proposed to shift dominance from sympathetic to parasympathetic nervous system activation.
Questions
Based on clinical use and available research. Evidence varies by condition and individual response.
The 10-step protocol parallels exposure-based approaches, gradually reducing emotional charge of traumatic material through witnessing awareness.
Body scanning and breath awareness components support the transition from hyperarousal to restful sleep.
Systematic 'welcoming' practice develops non-reactive awareness that reduces anxiety reinforcement cycles.
Regular practice shifts nervous system dominance from sympathetic to parasympathetic activation.
Related
Based on the conditions iRest Yoga Nidra is used to support, practitioners commonly work with people experiencing these symptoms: