Sleep has always been an integral part of our well-being. Whether due to illness, altered work schedules, homeschooling, or social distancing, COVID-19 has impacted us all personally. Stress levels are high, and the resulting anxiety makes it much harder to get a good night’s rest.
Unfortunately, sleeping pills are the dominant treatment strategy for insomnia. Sleeping pills don’t work for everyone, have side effects, and do not address the underlying stress that is keeping you awake.
Through the practice of kriyas, specific breath control techniques, and exercises, anyone can find the fulfilling rest they need.
The importance of sleep hygiene
First, it’s critical to maintain good sleep hygiene. Signs your sleep could use improvement include taking too long to fall asleep, waking multiple times with difficulty falling back asleep, overall light and restless nights, and drowsiness during the day.
Here are some guidelines that you can follow to sleep better:
- Avoid bright screens and stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine close to bedtime.
- Exercise during the day so the body is ready to rest later. Be mindful of timing; exercising too late in the day can disrupt sleep.
- A light snack is OK, but avoid heavy meals or spicy food before bed.
- Drink a glass of water before sleep since dehydration can disturb the sleeping mind.
The 3HO Foundation recommends using these Kundalini Yoga techniques to quickly achieve deep sleep in just a few minutes:
Step 1: A busy mind has difficulty sleeping. Quiet your thoughts by first visualizing all your worries, ideas, and problems, wrapping them up in a package, then placing that package on a shelf in your mind.
Step 2: Lie on your stomach, turn your head so your right cheek is on the pillow. This automatically opens your left nostril to bring in cooling, calming energy. Practice long, deep breathing in this position.
Step 3: Once you feel drowsy, turn to your preferred sleeping position on your back or side.
Sleep is always an important component of your health, so we hope these steps will help you refine your sleep routine.
This article was originally published by Brandpoint and is reproduced here with full authorization.