7 Ways Yoga Will Improve Your Sleep Cycle by Diane R. Conley

Here on Root 2 Rise Yoga we recently looked at 18 benefits of yoga that can dynamically improve one's health and well-being. In the article we noted that one facet of your health that yoga enhances drastically is the quality of sleep. For this post, we put the limelight on how practicing yoga not only leads to better sleep and rest, but also helps your body recuperate more effectively.

Yoga Can Relieve Insomnia
Ditch the sleeping pills and go for something that's totally safe and organic. Very Well claims yoga can help you reinstate a normal sleep cycle as there are certain poses you can execute that will make you slip into deep sleep faster. For example, the happy baby (a.k.a. Ananda Balasana) is a move that can release tension in your lower back and hips that will make you feel looser for bedtime. 

Yoga Can Soothe Your Senses
It can't be stressed enough that breathing is one of yoga's most important aspects. Yoga can help you feel more relaxed as it dispels tension in your muscles as you inhale and exhale while maintaining the poses. John Hopkins Medicine concurs and even provides a tip to maintain focus on your breathing. As you breath, imagine yourself watching a beautiful car pass by as you stand at the side of a highway. Your instincts will tell you to just keep still and watch the car. Apply the same instincts to your breathing.

Yoga Can Clear Your Mind
For many, restful sleep becomes impossible because of too many mental distractions before bedtime. If you want to work some of your issues out to achieve quality sleep, Leesa advises you to get a piece of paper and jot down all your concerns before climbing into bed. Couple this with a yoga move that will help you hit the reset button and squash distractions before you sleep, and your sleeping habits will improve. ZME Science notes that you can opt to do a child's pose just before you go to bed as this will help you relax your mind and put your whole nervous system at ease. Keep the pose between 5 to 10 breaths for the best results. 

Yoga Betters Blood Circulation
Doing the corpse pose not only reduces tension throughout your body, but also rejuvenates your mind and encourages better blood flow. This pose makes sleeping easier because it keeps your head and spine at a neutral position. You don't want to feel unwanted pressure on different parts of your body that may impede blood flow to the rest of the body.

Yoga Regulate Your Blood Pressure
Not only does regular yoga practice ward off illnesses like diabetes and obesity, it also can bring down your blood pressure which will make you feel more relaxed for sleep. M. Mala Cunningham, Ph.D, of the American Heart Association underlines that sustained yoga workouts can also increase exercise functionality and decrease cholesterol levels.

Yoga Can Help You Get into A Sleep-Better Routine
When you've locked down a regimen that works, more often than not you will stick to it. Performing yoga every night will get your body into a good bedtime routine. When you have a dependable habit, you can almost guarantee that you'll get the much-deserved rest and sleep you need every night. 

Yoga Puts You in A Great Mood for Bed
There's no doubt that yoga eradicates feelings of negativity and you couldn't ask for a better demeanor before you go to bed. Yoga can definitely work as a holistic approach to preparing your mind, body, and spirit for quality sleep. In turn, you are able to maximize the full benefits of sleep as your memory strengthens, your muscles heal faster, and you feel more energized for the next day.