Sleeping each night for at least 8 hours is essential to your health. Not only does sleep help protect your physical wellness including heart health, it also lowers stress levels and enhances your mood. Unfortunately, Americans are not sleeping a full 8 hours each night and it’s affecting their life in a negative way. So what can you do to get a better night’s sleep naturally?
Maintaining healthy habits throughout your day can help promote better sleep at night. Some suggestions would be; sticking to a regular bedtime, creating a bedroom environment that is soothing and comfortable and cutting back on caffeine especially in the afternoon. In addition to these sleep-inducing tips, one vital practice that you should make a part of your daily life is yoga.
A daily yoga session or meditation practice has been proven to increase sleep time because you go to bed in a calmer and more relaxed state of mind. Rather than relying on sleep medication or living your life sleep-deprived, try these 3 best yoga poses for a better night’s sleep naturally tonight.
- Head-to-knee pose. Sit up straight on your best chemical free yoga mat or on your bed with legs extended straight out in front of you. Bend one leg into the other to open the hip and place your foot onto the inner thigh of the opposite leg. Inhale while lengthening the spine and then exhale as you bend forward over the extended leg holding onto your foot. Keep spine and neck long, enjoy the stretch and then repeat on the other side.
- Child’s pose is a favorite for many because it feels so good. While kneeling on your yoga mat breathe in deeply and as you exhale relax your torso onto your thighs. You can rest your arms straight out in front of you or alongside your body and enjoy the deep relaxing stretch for at least 3-5 minutes. Child’s pose is also one of the best yoga poses for digestion.
- Cobbler’s pose. One of the best for relaxation. Sit up straight on your yoga mat and bring the soles of your feet together in front of you. Pull your feet as close to your body as you can and exhale as you bend forward from the hips while keeping your spine long. Continue to breathe as you stretch and relax your muscles. Read more about cobbler’s pose here.
Read more from NY Yoga Writer Cristina Pierce here.
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