Relaxing yoga poses to help you sleep

We all need a good night’s sleep. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to function whilst doing our daily tasks.

Having our precious beauty sleep is essential to our overall health and well-being. As our bodies recharge at night, our skin eliminates toxins and heals itself. Lack of sleep triggers irritable mood swings and lessens the ability to handle stress. In the long run, chronic sleepiness will significantly increase the chance of having depression.

However, you may struggle with getting the daily recommended amount of seven to eight hours of sleep. By relieving the tension in your body and reducing your stress levels, yoga is a natural sleep remedy. The practice of inversion and resting poses enables you to focus on your breathing, thus stimulating the nervous system through exhalation. You don’t have to sign up to a class to practice these poses. You can simply do them in the comfort of your own bedroom right before you go to bed. So help ease the physical state of your body and get some Zs whilst feeling Zen with these relaxing yoga poses.

Viparita Karani (legs up the wall pose)

Stretching your legs up towards the ceiling against the wall creates a soothing sensation, thus allowing blood to rush down back to the heart.

Uttanasana (standing forward bend)

This pose helps ease tension in the hips and legs as well as reducing headaches and stress levels.

Balasana (child’s pose)

Mind and body becomes calm whilst focusing on taking deep breaths.

Halasana (plow pose)

Remaining in this position for about two to five minutes helps increase blood circulation through your entire body.

Ardha Matsyendrasana (seated spinal twist)

This particular pose enables the relief of backache symptoms by increasing flexibility of the spine.

Janu Sirsasana (head-of-the-knee pose)

Make sure your lower belly touches your thigh whilst extending your leg. Don’t be so forceful when reaching for your foot.

Upavistha Konasana (seated wide angle pose)

By sitting with your legs wide apart and bending forward, Upavistha Konasana has the benefit of stretching your entire backside, thus putting your mind at ease.

Surya Bhedana (left nostril breathing)

This exercise focuses on your breathing and enables the improvement of your digestive system.  

Savasana (corpse pose)

The purpose of Savasana is to relax both the mind and body. You will be able to let go of your daily troubles.

Geneve Anderson