How practising periodic withdrawal with Yoga Nidra at its core can supercharge your life

Krishna Prakash
Aug 6
3 min read

In a world where every second is filled with pings, notifications, deadlines, and endless scrolling, our nervous systems are in a constant state of alertness.

The result?

Stress. Burnout. Fragmented attention. Emotional fatigue.

We are constantly "on" yet rarely present.

But what if the answer to greater energy and creativity wasn’t in doing more…What if it were done less intentionally and mindfully?

What if just a few minutes of withdrawal each day could offer you clarity, calm, and even courage?

Let’s explore a simple yet powerful life practice:

Periodic withdrawal.

Yes - a #pause.

Not a break from life, but a return to yourself.

Why is periodic withdrawal so essential today?

We often underestimate the power of stopping. But stepping back - even briefly allows us to:

✅ Implement the AUM Framework - Accept, Understand, and Manage life experiences from a calmer place

✅Enhance focus and reduce mental clutter

✅Ignite creative ideas that can’t emerge amidst chaos

✅ Deepen self-awareness, enabling conscious choices over reactive ones

✅ Cultivate gratitude, shifting our inner narrative from pressure to presence

This is not just productivity advice - this is about living from a grounded space within.

How to practise periodic withdrawal in daily life

You don’t need to quit your job or go on a retreat.Withdrawal can be woven into the fabric of your day through simple, intentional actions:

Schedule micro breaks

→ Set a timer for every 60–90 minutes. Use that pause to stretch, sip water, or simply breathe consciously.

→ Especially in air-conditioned spaces, hydration is critical and suppressing natural bodily urges (like yawning, urinating, etc.) can disturb your internal balance, as per Yoga and Ayurveda.

Designate no-screen time

→ Take 5-minute digital detoxes every hour. → Use that time for palming (warming the eyes with cupped hands), or gentle blinking to soothe and lubricate your eyes, simple yogic techniques that deeply relax the nervous system.

Connect with Nature

→ Nature has an innate intelligence that recalibrates our energy. → Whether it’s a stroll in the park, tending to a balcony plant, or simply watching the clouds stepping outside our four walls, can rejuvenate the mind and soul.

Embrace Yogic practices like Antar Mouna, Meditation and especially, Yoga Nidra

→ Many of us try to solve problems at the level they occur. These yogic tools help us shift into a higher state of awareness, giving us clarity from a broader lens.

→ Yoga Nidra, often called “yogic sleep”, is a state of deep conscious rest. Unlike ordinary sleep, the body completely relaxes while the mind remains aware. This powerful practice:

Unlocks subconscious blocks
Relieves chronic stress
Brings emotional healing
And connects you to your inner wisdom

Prioritize deep, quality Sleep

→ Give yourself the gift of 6½ to 8 hours of restful sleep. → Sleep is not a luxury. It’s how your body consolidates memory, balances hormones, detoxifies the brain, and repairs itself.

→ Believing "I'll sleep when I'm dead" is not only unhealthy, it's unsustainable.

🌙 Yoga Nidra: The jewel of Yogic rest

At the heart of this entire practice lies Yoga Nidra — a timeless technique that merges rest with awareness.

It’s not about doing nothing. It’s about doing less, with greater depth and consciousness.

In just 20–40 minutes, Yoga Nidra can bring the nervous system into a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state, boost immunity, and unlock deep creative flow.

Whether you're a: