Use Meditation to Improve Your Sleep

Success/Motivation
/ By DD Kelsey

Sleep is often overlooked when it comes to overcoming injuries and surgeries. Your body needs sleep to heal, alter tissue strength, and restore energy reserves.

The post today is by Adam Kyle. Adam is a sleep expert at MattressReviews.net (I have no financial interest in MattressReviews.net nor any product they might suggest). A workaholic by nature, it wasn’t until his late twenties that he realized the importance of sleep for his health. At that point, he focused on learning everything he could about sleep. Now, Adam specializes in how his environment and his physical well-being affect his sleep.

Did you know that yoga and the meditation that goes along with it can improve your sleep? It might sound crazy, but it’s true. If you struggle with insomnia like so many people do these days, consider adding both of these to your sleep regimen. Sure, it takes some time and energy to figure out how to work these things with your schedule, but it will be worth it when you’re getting the rest you need.

Mindfulness Meditation

While mindfulness meditation alone may not help you get more sleep, it can help improve the quality of the sleep you do get.^[1]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399916303579 When researchers went through all of the available material on the topic, they discovered the quality of sleep in people who practice this type of meditation was significantly better than in those who did not practice.

To start a mindfulness practice, set aside a few minutes a day to meditate. Find a quiet place, get comfortable, and focus on your breathing. If you notice your mind wandering, simply bring it back to your breath. When your timer goes off, you’re done!

Sleep and Yoga Practice

People who practice yoga sleep like they are younger than their numerical age. Since sleep tends to deteriorate as we get older, this finding is particularly important for older adults who struggle with insomnia. However, it’s applicable to everyone because it’s never too young to start protecting your rest!

More specifically, yoga practitioners more of the deep, slow-wave sleep that rejuvenates the body, as well as longer periods of REM sleep. Both of these are important when it comes to overall well-being and feeling rested.

If you’re not sleeping well, work to improve your habits. Sleep in a darkened room, wear earplugs and make sure you have a mattress that works well for you. Pretty soon, you should notice an improvement in your rest.

You don’t have to accept your insomnia. Instead, fight it the natural way. Incorporating mindfulness meditation and a meditative yoga practice into your nightly routine can help moderate stress levels, reduce anxiety, and get you the sleep that you’ve been craving.

Thanks for reading.