5 yoga poses for better sleep

Although a new bed can make the world of difference when you are looking to improve your sleep, sometimes you need to look inward and see if it is actually your body that needs to be renewed. After each night, you should wake up feeling refreshed. Your brain cleanses itself while you sleep, which is part of the many reasons why you wake up feeling “renewed”. But when you are not sleeping well, you might wake up feeling the exact opposite of renewed.

We have chronicled just about every single thing you can do to improve your sleep, from Feng Shui to buying a new mattress, but we have not really covered the importance of calming your mind and stretching your body.

Have you considered yoga?

While you might think that you don’t fit the profile of a yoga practitioner, the truth is that anyone can take up this form of gentle exercise and not only master it but enjoy the numerous benefits of this ancient meditative/physical practice.

In recent years there has been a big revival in yoga, something you might have noticed, and classes are offered seemingly everywhere, from your local gym to private homes. But you don’t have to sign up for an expensive class to master the basics that can help you sleep.

Yoga can be taken up at any age. Even if you have never tried such a thing before, you can be in your later years when you have your first experience.

What exactly is yoga?

You probably have a firm grasp of the basics already; stretching, breathing, meditation. The dictionary tells us that yoga is:

“A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practised for health and relaxation.”

But there is far more to it than just that! In a time when most look outward for relaxation and fulfilment, others use the teachings of yoga to calm their minds and relax their bodies. This is because, with so many techniques to use, you will find the perfect combination of practices to help you relax.

Many swear by the power of yoga. There are many different types of yoga, and with each type, there is a myriad of poses and breathing exercises. You might never learn everything there is to know about all the different types of yoga, but you will be able to learn enough to change the way that you live your life. Even science has caught onto these exercising principles and evidence has been produced to show that there are real benefits to practising yoga.

The benefits of yoga

Yoga can improve your flexibility

As your body starts loosening up more and more after each lesson, you will probably notice that aches and pains lessen as well.

Stronger back muscles

When your back muscles are strong, back pain becomes less likely and in your older years, you will benefit by having the strength that will prevent you from easily toppling over. Powerful back muscles can also lessen your chances of getting arthritis.

Better posture

Should you be one of the millions of people sitting at a desk all day, chances are good that your posture is not what it should be. When your spine is not correctly supported, you will have pain and as you get older it will just get more difficult to fix the problem. The ways that your body is likely to compensate for your bad posture will likely contribute to ill health later on. Yoga can improve your posture.

Increased blood flow

With yoga, you are improving the blood flow throughout your body. With more oxygen being sent to your cells, it is not only great for your health but can also help you to relax.

Yoga helps to focus

Every day we are rushing, touching on important things here and there but never really feeling fulfilled. Studies have found that people who do yoga can improve their focus, their concentration and their IQ over time. By practising yoga, you will be able to fully focus on the more important things in life.

These are just 5 great reasons to take up yoga, the list goes on and on. The art of yoga goes centuries back, and all this time people have been able to improve their lives. And you can use the knowledge to improve your sleep.

The 5 poses to improve your sleep

Childs Pose

This is the most common pose in yoga and involves resting your chin on your thighs, with your feet tucked beneath you. This helps you to focus inward.

Cat-Cow Stretch

This pose takes the tension out of your back, shoulders and torso. When on your hands and knees, stretch your back by pushing it up and then release the pose, and push your stomach down.

Legs up

Lying with your bottom against the wall, your back flat and your arms at your side, your legs will need to be up against the wall. This pose reduces stress and helps to heal fatigue. Staying in this pose for 5 minutes can be wonderfully beneficial.

Supine Spinal Twist

Stretching your back and legs can help to remove the stress. This pose is a little complicated to explain but a quick Google search will show you what needs to be done.

Corpse Pose

Not nearly as horrifying as it sounds, the Corpse Pose can be accomplished by anyone. Lay out on a comfortable surface with your legs and arms flat. Close your eyes and take deep breaths. This pose can lower your heart rate, lower your blood pressure and prepare your body for sleep.

By using these few poses, you can improve your sleep and let go of the day’s stress. Use yoga as a part of your nightly routine and you will find that you will sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed. If all else fails you might need to think about buying a new bed. At The Mattress Warehouse, our selection of beds for sale will provide you with just what you need.