Yoga For Sleep

Yoga isn’t just beneficial for improving core strength, flexibility, and stress levels; it can help you sleep better- especially if you suffer from insomnia. Studies have proven that practicing yoga on a daily basis helps you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and improve your overall night’s rest so that you wake up feeling refreshed.

A good night’s sleep affects how you relate to the world, thus decreasing depression, anxiety, heart rate, and blood pressure. Proper sleep increases stress resilience, optimism, memory, metabolism and even the ability to problem solve.  So unless you are a superhero, your body requires sleep.

Introducing yoga into your bedtime routine will have marvellous benefits on the quality of your sleep. However, it is important that you are doing the right type of yoga. Energising yoga such as hot yoga and vinyasa won’t help you relax as well as restorative styles of yoga such as hatha. A helpful first step before beginning your bedtime yoga practice is to switch off your phone so you can immerse yourself in the practice and begin to relax.

Below are five yoga poses ideal for preparing the body for sleep. You will need one or two pillows and lots of slow, soft breaths. May your dreams be sweet, and your sleep refreshingly deep!