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Yoga and Sleep | Sleep Galleria

Yoga and Sleep

Yoga and Sleep

You may not have realized but yoga and sleep go together quite nicely. There are several benefits of yoga for sleep and even certain yoga poses that help with sleep. Now all those shirts we’ve seen that say, “Namaste in Bed”, makes total sense. Limber up those learning muscles because here’s what you need to know about yoga and sleep.

For some people, getting started with yoga can seem intimidating. With yoga poses having so many different names, and there being different sets of yoga sequences, it can be a bit much at first glance. Once you understand that warrior poses aren’t nearly as complicated as they might sound, it’s easier than you think to get started with yoga, and more than just your sleep cycles will thank you.

Science says yoga can help you sleep for a number of reasons. A national survey looking at trends in complementary health approaches in adults revealed a couple of interesting facts about yoga and health. For starters, 85% of those surveyed reported yoga helped them reduce stress. Generally, less stress can mean more snooze, but yoga does more than just reduce stress.

55% of survey participants admitted that yoga helped improve sleep quality and duration.

People of all ages and backgrounds can take advantage of the benefits of yoga for sleep, but there are certain groups of people that it’s shown to be most beneficial. One study on yoga and sleep showed that pregnant women who do yoga have reduced prenatal depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Other research on yoga for women and sleep, supports the same benefits for women in menopause.

All of this is great news for women, but they aren’t alone in getting better sleep thanks to yoga. Science also shows that yoga can help elderly people improve their sleep, as well as improve their overall quality of life. That’s a pretty big bonus for just doing a few yoga poses before bed! More research on sleep and yoga shows it can help people suffering from insomnia, which affects a lot more people than you might realize.

All of these benefits of yoga for sleep are great, but with so many yoga poses to choose from, which yoga poses are the best for sleep? Suggestions from yoga teachers about which yoga poses to do before bed can vary, but here are a few of the easiest and most commonly suggested yoga positions for better sleep.

Forward Fold - This is one of the easiest yoga poses that benefits sleep. While standing, you slowly bend over while keeping your legs straight. You can let your arms hang all the way down, or rest on your legs.

Legs Up - While lying on your back, place your legs up against a wall or your bedpost if you have one. You should look like an L-shape with your legs resting in the air with your arms at your sides.

Corpse Pose - Don’t let the name fool you. This is a great resting yoga pose that’s super easy for everyone. It involves lying flat on the floor or your bed, with your legs straight and your arms rested at your sides with your palms up.

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