Most of us are familiar with the idea that restful sleep is crucial to physical and mental health. Unfortunately, far too many Americans are sleep deprived. We just don’t sleep as often as we should. Some of us do not sleep because we have other things to do. Others want to sleep but cannot for one reason or another. Yoga might be the answer for both.
For those too busy to sleep, yoga offers the possibility of slowing down and reevaluating. It helps put things in perspective. For those who don’t get enough sleep due to insomnia, yoga encourages a state of deep relaxation that is quite conducive to falling and staying asleep.
Many Different Forms of Yoga
Anyone hoping to deal with insomnia by taking up yoga should first know that there are many different forms of the ancient practice. One of the best forms for insomnia is yoga nidra. According to yoga nidra expert and international teacher Scott Moore, the practice is often referred to as ‘yogic sleep’ because it focuses on a mental state that is somewhere between fully awake and fully sleeping.
Yoga nidra has deep relaxation and internal awareness at its core. It seeks to help people disconnect from external sensory influences so that they can relax and concentrate on the inward. Through a systematic approach, it is possible for a participant to become so utterly relaxed that sleep comes naturally.
Research Says It Helps
There is no doubt that yoga has been extensively studied by scientists wanting to know its benefits for physical and mental health. John Hopkins conducted its own research into yoga as a potential treatment for insomnia. The research clearly shows that yoga helps.
Researchers enrolled older adults over the age of sixty, all dealing with insomnia. For twelve weeks, the control group was offered traditional insomnia treatments. The test group participated in yoga classes two times per week. They were also encouraged to do yoga at home on a daily basis.
The test group ultimately reported “significant improvements in overall sleep quality, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency.” That is as clear and plain as one can make it. In their conclusions, the researchers recommended either hatha or nidra as good forms of yoga to promote sleep. They warned against any form of yoga that would get the heart pumping just before bed.
When People Are Too Busy to Sleep
We know that yoga can help insomnia patients get better sleep because research demonstrates as much. As for yoga being a solution for people who are too busy to sleep, there is little to no scientific evidence to look at. But there is common sense.
People who are too busy to sleep are not too busy to eat. They know they need to eat in order to stay alive. So what do they do? They make time for it. Likewise, sleep is crucial to good health. A consistent lack of restful sleep is bad for one’s physical and mental health and can contribute to serious conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Setting aside time for yoga sessions can help a person step back and take a more objective look at life. Yoga can help put things in perspective, helping a person realize that they don’t really have to constantly run for 20 hours a day. And by promoting inner peace and relaxation, yoga helps very busy people step back and breathe. That can lead to more and better sleep.
Are you not getting enough restful sleep? Consider yoga. It could help you get the best sleep you have ever experienced.