Image by Ciocan Ciprian
Listening to self-hypnosis, meditation, and yoga nidra audios can be an effective way to relax, connect with your imagination, and develop your inner resources.
When you find an audio that you’d like to use, you may wish to listen a few times each week. Each time you listen, you may feel, see, or experience something different.
Tips for Listening to Inner Journeys
You may wish to consider the set and setting when listening to the audios.
‘Set’ refers to mindset.
Arrive with an open mind and curiosity.
You may wish to use the audio early in the morning shortly after you wake up.
Alternatively, you may wish to listen in the evening. If so, do it at least one hour before you typically go to bed to avoid drifting off or falling asleep.
‘Setting’ refers to the space around you.
Wear headphones or earbuds to listen to the audio. This will block background noise.
Reduce the lighting in the room or place an eyemask or lightweight scarf over your eyes to soften the light around you.
Listen to the audio in a comfortable position, either sitting in a slightly reclined position or lying down with your head supported by a pillow
If you are lying down, you may wish to place a pillow or bolster under your knees to release pressure on your lower back.
When you move into a relaxed state, your body temperature may drop. Have a lightweight blanket over your body or nearby.
Integration
After listening to the audio, reflect on anything that came up for you. Sit quietly and notice any change in the sensations in your body. You may wish to free-write or use the journal prompts provided below.
Journal Prompts for Post-listening Reflection
Here are a few general prompts to support your exploration.
What feelings or sensations came up for you?
Did you see or visualise anything?
What actions can you take to integrate what you discovered?
Inner Journeys are self-hypnosis and meditation practices intended for relaxation, personal exploration, and creative development. Self-hypnosis is a naturally occurring state of focused attention and directed awareness. You may already know the feeling: becoming completely absorbed in music, losing track of time while creating something, or drifting into a vivid daydream. Guided self-hypnosis uses this capacity deliberately.
Inner Journeys are non-clinical, non-therapeutic self-hypnosis and meditation practices. They are not a substitute for medical, psychological or mental health treatment.