Yoga Nidra: An Open Heart

Our journey begins in a reclined posture, opening your heart to the omnipresent love of God. Pause and savor this time of Yoga Nidra as we explore the invitation of Psalm 51:10, inviting the abundant love, light, and spirit of God to rejuvenate us from within. Whether you're seeking an afternoon reset or preparing for a night of peaceful sleep, open yourself to God's love and light with this refreshing meditation for heart, mind, and body.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:01

Hi , this is Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations . I invite you to settle into a reclined posture for this Yoga-Nidra meditation . Yoga-nidra offers your body , your brain , your whole self a chance to reset , to pause . You may enjoy Yoga-Nidra for an afternoon reset or as an unwinding opportunity before you go to sleep at night . Over a time of day . You find yourself listening , give yourself permission to open your heart , to rest in God's presence and to feel refreshed . I'll close our meditation time today in silence after our prayer , so I'll take this chance now to remind you you can always support the podcast and connect with a community of other listeners at ExploringPeacecom slash community , and you can find me at WhitneyRSimpsoncom by now . I hope you're comfortable , your body is supported . You might wish to tuck something under your knees or cover your eyes . Allow your arms to rest by your side and begin yielding , letting go . Allow your breath to move freely in and out through your nose as you relax . Let go of any tension in your body . Allow yourself to fully surrender to this present moment . Listen to these words from Psalm 51-10 . Create in me a clean heart , o God , and renew a right spirit within me . Create in me a clean heart , o God , and renew a right spirit within me . Allow your attention to settle in your heart center , just taking your inner awareness to the center of your heart space . Envision your heart Open , radiant , glowing , receptive , opening up to God's love . See your heart being renewed , refreshed , revitalized by God's spirit . If that's hard to imagine , ask God , with each breath you breathe , to open your heart , to refresh your spirit , to cleanse you of anything that hurts or gets in the way . Today , as you see your heart space , say these words silently to yourself Create in me a clean heart , o God , and renew a right spirit within me . Feel the intention of your heart's desire to be open and receptive , to be refreshed and renewed by God's spirit . Allow any feelings of resistance or negativity to dissolve , to be carried away by God's grace . Create in me a clean heart , o God , and renew a right spirit within me .

Speaker 1 6:00

Now imagine a warm , beautiful beam of God's sunlight pouring down from above , surrounding your heart with its gentle glow . With every beat of your heart , god's light spreads . This light begins to fill every cell of your body . The light that God is shining upon you fills your entire being and as you are filled with light , you've opened yourself up to God's love , healing and renewal . Allow the light to fill you , radiating from your heart space . Now imagine yourself whispering these words to your heart I am open , I am ready , I am receptive to God's love , to God's light , to God's healing , to God's goodness .

Speaker 1 8:08

I am open , I am ready , I am receptive . I am open , I am ready , I am receptive . Stay in this space of openness and receptivity for a few more moments , allowing God's healing light to cover you , to fill you . Stay in this space of openness and receptivity for a few more moments , allowing God's healing light to cover you , to fill you . Allow your awareness to travel to the bottom of your feet . See if you can feel the warmth of the light that you imagined Toes , the soles of your feet and the tops of your feet to relax and rest .

Speaker 1 10:15

Allow your awareness to travel up your shins , thighs , calves , knees , thighs , hips , belly , chest , shoulders , arms , hands , fingers , the top of the head , back of the head , cheeks , eyes , nose , jaw , jaw , chin , teeth , tongue , eyelids , eyes , sockets , the whole face . Relax , the whole face , eyes . Feel the lightness and the openness of your body as the breath moves in and out through your nose . Imagine an ocean wave flowing seamlessly , smoothly flowing in and out , being open to the movement of the breath and the wave . Breathe in , breathe out . Breathe in , breathe out , breathe in , breathe out . Allow yourself permission to let go and discover deep relaxation and rest in this place of openness . You're receiving the gift of God's love and grace to simply be , to rest in this state of deep calm and openness . Let go of all efforts , all striving , all working , and be open to the gift of rest , of relaxation , of simply being . See and imagine the ocean waves . Allow your breath to sink with the waves , breathing in fully , breathing out , completely . Allow to the feeling of relaxation .

Speaker 2 16:00

Allow to the feeling of relaxation , allow to the feeling of relaxation . Allow to the feeling of relaxation . Allow to the feeling of relaxation . Allow to the feeling of relaxation , allow to the feeling of relaxation , allow to the feeling of relaxation .

Speaker 1 18:07

Notice the openness that you feel in your body , in your heart , in your mind . Receive and welcome the open space God's created within you . Feel any warming sensation from God's light pouring upon you . Bring to mind something or someone for which you are grateful . Hold this gratitude in your open heart . Creator God , thank you for rest and restoration . Thank you for open hearts . Continue to cover us and fill us with your light as we seek rest and restoration in you . In your name , we pray Amen . You may wish to bring your awareness back into the present space and return to your day . If you're ready to drift into sleep , give thanks to God , close your eyes and rest Until next time . May the peace of Christ be with you .