FAQ

Yoga Nidra / NSDR has a lot of health benefits. Through awareness you're kind of 'recalibrating' your nervous system. Once the body is in a restful state, your body knows what it needs. And it will do just that. So although the list of health benefits from Yoga Nidra is massive, it does not make it a magic pill. Nor does it make it ‘too good to be true’. You first must be practicing to receive any benefit. The benefits you receive will be personal to you, your body, your physiology, your mindset, and your experience.

Everyone can practice Yoga Nidra / NSDR. It is accessible for most populations, including those with physical limitations. Children and the elderly also benefit from practicing Yoga Nidra / NSDR. Special populations may want to consider a more creative propping or environmental setup that’s suitable for their bodies and their needs.

Use it as part of your practice! Can you learn to not label the sounds you hear? Is it possible for you to be ok with these sounds? This is what practicing Yoga Nidra / NSDR will teach you. To be at peace with how life is, as it is.Keep practicing and you’ll be a smooth operator before you know it.

Being still amongst all sensations, including the yucky ones, are a part of the practice. The practice is to remain still. Yet if you’re so uncomfortable you need to move, move. Yoga Nidra / NSDR is a very personal practice where you are in charge of your body. YOU get to Choose and Cultivate the experience.

No worries. It’s time to try a different teacher. Some voices annoy or trigger us. Yoga Nidra / NSDR is a very personalized practice. If my voice doesn’t cut it, cut it out, but don’t cut out Yoga Nidra / NSDR. Find another Yoga Nidra / NSDR teacher. I won't take it personal. Get a teacher that gives you the sensation of safety so you can properly relax. (Hint: That’s where the juice is)

That depends on your own personal intention. One of my favorite things about Yoga Nidra / NSDR is each student is experiencing their own mind. I primarily talk about the Connectedness of Nature. And as humans we are Nature. If that's inappropriate for you, find another Yoga Nidra / NSDR teacher. If you’d like to add a religious or spiritual spin to your practice, you can choose to do so. When you choose your intention or Sankalpa, make it personal to you.

It’s essentially an intention. I love how Swami Satyananda Saraswati, author of Yoga Nidra describes a Sankalpa. He calls this part of the practice "Sowing the Seed of Change". He says your Sankalpa, your intention, is an effective way to train your mind.

You are creating the pathway of ‘choice’ by choosing your intention. They are not to fulfill your desires. They “create strength in the structure of the mind.” You can create an intention or Sankalpa to help give you a direction or to guide you in changing your mindset. Sankalpa’s deepen your experience and practice.

There are guidelines, but keep in mind, I’m a ‘do what’s right for your body’ kinda person. I recommend that you create a short, concise, present-tense statement. My Nidra / NSDRs begin with the pronoun “You”. I got this technique from Emily Hightower and her Neuro Nidras I, II & II courses by Shift Adapt. Using “You” speaks to your limbic brain, where most of your patterning resides.

You want your Sankalpa to come from your heart, something your Soul is searching for. Examples given are “You are Whole” or “You are Safe” or “You are Loved”. Whatever you choose, don't think too hard about it. This is an intuitional pick. I also believe in the power of symbols. Sometimes my Sankalpa is this drawing I have stuck in my head. Braddah’s new mythical, superpower after-life form. No words. Just that. I visualize that symbol, or mandala, when asked to bring forth my intention or Sankalpa.

Let it have personal meaning for you. It's ok to be silly & light-hearted too. “You are A Lion” is another one of mine. **Your intention or Sankalpa must be ‘felt’ to be effective.**

*Note: When I’m working on something that I do not currently feel, I sometimes use a technique personal to me. Instead of saying “You are…” while my mind also claims ‘bullshit’, I’ll shift the sentence. I believe that when I ask “How can you…”, I’m priming my brain to look for that path and/or solution. For example, “How can you feel Whole” or “How can you feel Safe” or “How can you feel Loved”. Do what’s right for you. This is a personal technique I use when I don’t believe what I am saying. How you choose your Sankalpa or intention is up to you. It’s also ok to not have one at all.

Like a good meal, it takes time. Some things will be easy for you while others will be a lifelong journey. Having a Sankalpa without having the goal of accomplishing your Sankalpa is important. Practice enjoying the process and decide what works best for you at any given moment. (pssst… your body will tell you)

No. You are in a state between being awake and being asleep called the hypnagogic state. The hypnagogic state is the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep.

Kamini Desai, PhD., explains this in her book Yoga Nidra: The Art of Transformational Sleep. She says,

“The brain state of Yoga Nidra corresponds to meditation. It is an extremely unusual state in which both halves of the brain are operating simultaneously as one whole. Usually the two halves of our brain are operating more independently, yet in coordination with on another. In Yoga Nidra, the yin and yang of the left and right brain come one unified whole.

In hypnosis, the brain activity is different than in Yoga Nidra or in meditation. In hypnosis, left anterior executive functions are suspended; and the right posterior part of the brain is activated. Access to the brain is different than in Yoga Nidra. The changes we see in Yoga Nidra comes from unification with the whole. In hypnosis, it seems the changes come from putting aside the left brain, which usually dominates, in order to gain access to the right brain. In Yoga Nidra, changes happen from a state of Oneness.”

In hypnosis you are more open to suggestion. That does not occur in Yoga Nidra / NSDR. As I guide you through imagery, what you ‘see’ or ‘experience’ is what is already in your mind. Based on your physiology, your experiences, your beliefs, your upbringing, your culture, and your mind. In my opinion, in Yoga Nidra / NSDR, you experience yourself.

Some famous people have a reputation of using the hypnagogic state. They would use it for creativity or clarity purposes. This includes Salvador Dali, Thomas Edison, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Napoleon Boneparte & Carl Jung. In this state your unconscious mind and its patterns may ‘show up’. This is how Yoga Nidra / NSDR reveals your subconscious to you, piece by piece. Through sensation.

Keep in mind this is different from dreaming. In Yoga Nidra / NSDR you are not sleeping. You are on the brink of sleep. These alpha, theta and delta brainwave states are thought to enhance our creativity and clarity. Making it a deliberate tool in self-discovery (in my opinion).

For this reason, I recommend having your journal nearby when you practice Yoga Nidra / NSDR. Write down all your precious new ideas and insights! Most of all, have fun. It’s your Yoga.

Technically no. The state is the hypnagogic state or the state between. Staying in that zone IS the practice.

However, with as many people struggling with quality of sleep, if listening to a Yoga Nidra / NSDR helps you to drift off to sleep, like me, I say use what works. Sleep is the foundation of all physiology. It is the King player. I find Yoga Nidra / NSDR as a great way to allow myself to slowly drift away.

With that said, I believe the cueing of your environment is crucial if you are both practicing Yoga Nidra / NSDR or using it to guide you to sleep. What I mean by that, is I ONLY use Yoga Nidra / NSDR to guide me to sleep in my bed. When I practice I practice on my yoga mat.

* At a minimum, you’ll experience deep relaxation. You may not even realize how much tension you’re carrying around.

* Use the bathroom prior to practicing

* Have your journal next to you so when the practice is over you don’t need to get up

*Practice boundaries with people you share space with. Express your needs in a way that is appropriate.

* Play with props to support your body to be in your best comfy cocoon, remember it’s personal

* Be aware you’ll be in the same position the entire time. Set your body in a shape that is best suited for your body in that moment.

* Set the lights on a dim setting if possible

* Tell other members in your household you’ll be practicing and would appreciate a quiet atmosphere

* Fidget as much as you need to in the beginning to help your body settle

* You can play your own meditation music while listening to Yoga Nidra / NSDR. Keep the volume on a soft setting. As you deepen into the practice the volume will seem to get louder as your awareness becomes more internal.

* Yoga Nidra / NSDR is a practice of ‘being’, not ‘doing’. There’s nothing more for you to do except lay still and listen to the sound of my voice. The benefits occur in the stillness. Allow me to guide you.

* Its normal to loose track of time and space. It’s also normal to twitch as the body slowly drifts.

* If you loose your place, don’t try to “catch up” and do all the things I previously said. Simply come back to where my voice currently is, and begin again.

* Journaling after your Yoga Nidra / NSDR can help you discover the other gifts Yoga Nidra / NSDR will give you. This is such a personal practice that those gifts for you will be a part of your own personal discovery.

* Yoga Nidra / NSDR is the practice of 4 things: Stillness (SO hard), Listening (to the sound of my voice), Noticing (What sensations do I feel in my body? Can I describe them? Where do I feel them in my body?) and the toughest piece… ALLOWING (can you allow the sensations, whether pleasant or unpleasant, to be there without engagement. No stories of why you feel the way you feel. Simply watching and listening to what is occurring in your body.

The Magic of Mistakes is a 7-month course designed to help you understand your body as an ecosystem, build sustainable habits, and develop the tools to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. We cover topics like sleep, movement, arousal management, nutrition, hydration, and more—all framed within a supportive structure meant to fit your lifestyle..

This course is not about perfection; it’s about embracing growth through curiosity, resilience, and, yes, mistakes!

This course is for those ready to explore how all the pieces of health fit together and take ownership of their wellness. 

If you’re committed to showing up, asking yourself questions, and embracing the challenges of personal growth, you’ll thrive here. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about curiosity, effort, and building a deeper understanding of yourself.

This course is not about perfection; it’s about embracing growth through curiosity, resilience, and, yes, mistakes!

The course includes 15 bi-weekly sessions over 7 months, delivered live via Zoom. Each session is two hours and includes:

• A lecture you can both understand and be challenged by. 

• Downloadable PDFs of the lecture

• Practical applications you can implement immediately.

• Guided exercises and space for questions.

All sessions are recorded and made available to participants. While live attendance is encouraged to foster connection and interaction, you’ll have access to recordings so you can catch up at your own pace.

Yes, but think of it as self-discovery work. After each session, you’ll receive prompts and exercises to help integrate what you’ve learned. These are designed to fit into your life and deepen your understanding of your body and habits.

You can request a refund up until the end of the first lecture. After that, no refunds will be issued. This policy ensures participants are fully committed to the program, fostering a group dynamic built on trust and accountability.

The Magic of Mistakes isn’t about rigid rules or quick fixes. It’s about meeting yourself where you are and growing from there.

This course is rooted in the principles of self-regulation, curiosity, and science, combined with real-life strategies to help you make sustainable changes. It’s a program designed to help you live fully, not just check off boxes.

Each session builds on the last, creating a cohesive roadmap for long-term success.

Session Titles and Dates:

No special equipment is required. Most exercises use simple tools like a pen, paper, and your body.

The live sessions are two hours every other week. Outside of that, the self-discovery work is flexible and meant to fit into your life as you learn to integrate the course concepts.

As you progress, you’ll likely find your lifestyle shifting naturally to reflect what you’re learning. This isn’t about checking off tasks but about discovering how these practices align with your unique rhythm and needs.

Life happens! If you miss a session or need extra time to catch up, you’ll have access to recordings and course materials all year long. The pace is steady but designed to be manageable.

While this course provides tools and knowledge to support overall wellness, it is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for specific concerns.

Yes, with some caveats. The course provides foundational knowledge and tools that can support many aspects of health and wellness. However, it’s always best to consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any new program.

Results will vary depending on your unique body, goals, and level of commitment. Everyone’s experience is different, and we don’t guarantee specific outcomes. This course is about providing tools, knowledge, and support to help you better understand your own body and its needs.

Ultimately, it’s your personal responsibility to explore how these practices work for you. The Magic of Mistakes is designed to empower you to make informed, bioindividual choices that align with your life.

Yes! You’ll have access to the course materials, including session recordings, until December 31, 2025. The slides for each session will be available as downloadable PDFs for your personal use.

Additionally, the Resource Library and Yoga Nidra Library are free and always available on the website for continued exploration and growth.

I genuinely appreciate your enthusiasm for the course—it means a lot! However, the best way to support me and Waffle is to avoid sharing the materials with others. This course represents hours of creation, research, and love poured into something meaningful.

Sharing without permission not only undermines that effort but also compromises the experience for everyone. I kindly ask that you respect the boundaries and integrity of the work we’ve created together. 

I’ve provided a Resource Library and Yoga Nidra Library on my website whatsyourwaffle.com to be  available for everyone. And both are free to use so there’s something for everyone.

Yes, the course is online and accessible worldwide. Just keep in mind the session times are in MST (Mountain Standard Time), so you’ll need to adjust for your local time zone or watch after the recordings are uploaded.

Right now, I’m too new to offer scholarships or payment plans—it just isn’t something I can swing at this stage. That said, if you know of any scholarship opportunities that could be applied to this course, I’m all ears and happy to research them. It’s something I’d love to explore providing in the future, but for now, it kinda is what it is.