Connection between Yoga Nidra, the Brain’s DMN, and Garbha Saṁskāra

Ever heard of the brain’s DMN – Default Mode Network?

If you happened to read it as DeMoN 😈, you’re not wrong! Because when left unregulated, it truly behaves like one: stirring anxiety, rumination, and restless thoughts.

Now, what does this have to do with Yoga Nidra and Garbha Saṁskāra from Indic Wisdom?

Let’s unpack this together.

1. Yoga Nidra – conscious relaxation and manifestation

Yoga Nidra, often translated as “Yogic sleep,” is an ancient yet scientifically validated practice of guided awareness and beyond.

It is not mere rest but a state between wakefulness and sleep, where awareness remains intact.

Through various modules of body awareness, breath, and Sankalpa (intention), the practitioner learns to consciously access deeper layers of the mind: a process that naturally quietens mental chatter.

2. DMN – The Brain’s “Restless Mode”

In neuroscience, the Default Mode Network is the brain’s activity hub when we are at rest - daydreaming, recalling memories, imagining, or engaging in self-talk.

But an overactive DMN invariably leads to stress, anxiety, and depression.

Our collaborative research with Sharda University, facilitated by the GI4QC Forum, aims to help students use Yoga Nidra to balance their DMN, taming the inner DeMoN and bringing calm clarity to their mind.

3. Garbha Saṁskāra – Conscious Prenatal Education

In Indic Wisdom, Garbha Saṁskāra refers to the intentional nurturing of the fetus through mental, emotional, and spiritual nourishment.

It is not just about rituals or mantras; it is about the mother’s inner state: her thoughts, emotions, environment, and awareness - which subtly shape the consciousness of the child.

The Integrative Connection

When expectant mothers practice Yoga Nidra, they move beyond the restless DMN into a deeply receptive and peaceful state.

In this quiet space, positive saṁskāras (impressions) are effortlessly transmitted, sometimes through words, sometimes through silence.

From a neuropsychological lens,

Reduced DMN activity → calmer nervous system → reduced cortisol → healthier womb environment.

From an Indic lens,

Yoga Nidra as conscious repose → impressions transmitted to the fetus → shaping subtle samskāras.

Yoga Nidra becomes more than just relaxation - it’s a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience, between inner stillness and conscious creation.

If you’re curious to explore Yoga Nidra as a tool for awareness, healing, and transformation, visit our website: https://www.shrimathyoga.com/yoga-nidra