Overview of Yoga Before Bedtime
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to overall wellbeing, but unfortunately, insomnia is a widespread issue. Practices like yoga that can rebalance your mind and body just before bedtime can help provide relief to those suffering from poor sleep. It is estimated that certain yoga poses can provide short and long benefits, helping your body wind down at the end of the day and better prepare for a full night of rest.
Yoga helps to reduce muscle & joint tension, relieve physical anxiety and soothe the mind. By performing a few well-chosen poses before bedtime, it can boost your overall sleep quality and help to reestablish a good nighttime routine. Also, it can be done in the comfort of your own home, making it accessible anytime, anywhere.
Whether you have random difficulty sleeping or suffer from chronic insomnia, yoga and relaxation techniques can be a helpful component of your nightly routine. Breaking up stress by incorporating even just a few yoga poses before bed is an effortless way to beat insomnia and improve overall wellbeing.
The Benefits of Yoga Before Bedtime
Yoga helps to provide relaxation and stress relief, while also calming the mind before a restful sleep. Performing any form of exercise can help you to fall asleep faster and wake up feeling more alert. Certain poses also have the potential to provide relief from pain and tension.
When done before bed, the movements can help you to de-stress and unwind while also improving physical flexibility and muscle strength. A number of muscle groups that don’t get used in the day-to-day such as the lower back, neck and facial muscles may suddenly become relaxed due to yoga.
The Best Yoga Poses For Sleep
Depending on the severity of your insomnia, you may find that different poses work best for you. However, the following poses are some of the most helpful in evoking a sense of peace and relaxation before sleep.
The Corpse Pose, Savasana or Shavasana is the classic pose for relaxation and prepares the body for a full night of restful sleep. Another helpful pose to incorporate before bed is Child’s Pose or Balasana which helps to increase emotional stability and relieve anxiety.
Finally, the Reclining Bound Angle Pose, Supta Baddha Konasana, helps to release stiffness in the hips and ease inflammation from the low back. Whichever poses you decide to incorporate into your yoga routine should be done with emphasis on being slow and controlled.
A Simple Way to Improve Sleep Quality
- Can reduce muscle/joint tension
- Reduce physical anxiety
- Stimulate a calming night-time routine
- Release stiffness in the hips and low back
- Helps to reduce stress & promote relaxation
Conclusion
Yoga can be an effective way to improve sleep quality & overall wellbeing. Incorporating a few poses into your nighttime routine can help to reduce stress and create a calming atmosphere in preparation for a full night of restful sleep. Not to mention, it can also help to improve physical flexibility and strength. Whether you struggle with sleep or just want to wind down, starting your night with a few yoga poses is an effortless way to do so.