Yoga for Insomnia: 6 Reasons It’s the Best Medicine for Deep Sleep

Yoga is good for the body, mind, and sleep. Learn why specific yoga for insomnia is the number one rated natural remedy to help individuals sleep better.

Do you have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep? If so, you have probably tried many things to improve your quality of sleep. There is nothing worse than being tired all the time, and being exhausted affects every aspect of your daily life.

Insomnia is more common than you might think. As many as twenty-five percent of Americans suffer from it every year. The causes are numerous and varied and can include high stress, emotional disorders, living a sedentary lifestyle, having a varying schedule and more.

There are a number of treatments available, but yoga for insomnia seems to be effective regardless of the cause. Yoga has so many benefits for practitioners, but many are unaware of the fact that it can aid in the realm of sleep.

Many people with insomnia turn to sleep pills or other drugs, but that’s not necessary. If you begin to practice yoga on a regular basis, you will sleep better each night, and soon your insomnia will be a distant memory from the past.

 

Insomnia Symptoms

The way that insomnia affects insomnia sufferers can differ. People who experience insomnia may have difficulty getting up in the morning and when they do sleep, they may wake to feel unrefreshed.

Others may have trouble falling asleep at night and may spend hours tossing and turning each night. Still, others may have no problem falling asleep but may wake up in the middle of the night on numerous occasions. This sort of insomnia is frustrating because the individual’s sleep is so segmented that it does not provide the rest necessary to function well the next day.

Some insomnia sufferers experience just one of the above symptoms but others report a combination of several or all of them. Regardless, a lack of good and solid sleep can lead to other symptoms like overall fatigue, mood changes, and irritability. People who suffer from insomnia may find that they have a hard time concentrating on tasks during the day and may put themselves and others in danger as a result of their fatigue.

 

Traditional Insomnia Treatment

Doctors offer many options for insomnia treatment. Most begin by suggesting that their patients stick to a regular sleep schedule and sometimes this alone helps. If that doesn’t work, doctors may recommend their patients avoid electronics and other stimulation like caffeine after a certain hour.

People who suffer from insomnia at night should not smoke and should not nap during the day. Large meals should also be avoided near bedtime.

Sleeping in a cool and darkened room can also help insomnia sufferers to get the sleep that they need. A warm bath or reading before bed can help to create a ritual that will help sleep come more easily. Staying active during the day can also help.

If all of the above has no effect, then a doctor may recommend over-the-counter sleep aids, or he or she may prescribe prescription sleep aids. Many people would prefer not to take medication to help with sleep though, as there are a number of negative side effects to these drugs. People who do not find success from the above suggestions may feel frustrated and may not know where to turn next.

 

Yoga for Insomnia

Today, more and more people that suffer from insomnia are turning to yoga for relief. This practice is ancient, but its applications for this particular condition are somewhat new.

There are many reasons why yoga works for insomnia. Read on to learn about the ways that trying yoga for insomnia can help people to get the rest that they so desperately need.

 

Yoga Improves Breathing

Some people who experience insomnia have difficulty sleeping because they have trouble breathing at night. People who practice yoga become much more aware of their breathing through related breathing exercises. Although it is difficult to practice these breathing exercises while asleep, the simple act of focusing on the breath while awake will make breathing while asleep easier.

Further, the flow of oxygen through the body while drifting off to sleep encourages relaxation. This will make falling asleep easier.

 

Yoga Reduces Stress

One of the main causes of insomnia is stress. People who practice yoga on a regular basis report reduced levels of stress in their everyday lives. Stress reduction thanks to yoga, can help insomniacs and yoga practitioners to fall asleep easier, to stay asleep longer, and to awake more refreshed in the morning.

 

Yoga Enhances Mental Focus

A lot of times, stress is caused by an unfocused mind. When your thoughts and ideas are all over the place, it’s no wonder that you have difficulty sleeping.

Fortunately, another benefit of yoga is that it helps practitioners to experience a much more focused line of thoughts. This will help people suffering from insomnia to clear their minds at the end of the day and will result in a better night’s sleep.

 

Yoga Keeps Practitioners Active

Many people today live very sedentary lives. Some people spend most of their day sitting at a desk or working on a computer. Our bodies are not made for that. We need exercise and motion to be healthy.

When someone practices yoga, he or she gets moving and uses nearly every muscle in the body. When yoga is practiced daily, the body will get stronger and leaner.

At the same time, the practitioner will feel more tired at the end of the day as a result. Through yoga practice, sleep will come more quickly and will be more effective as well.

 

Yoga Stimulates the Endocrine System

Our endocrine system works to balance imbalances in our bodies and provides a feedback loop to the brain to keep us healthy. Through yoga practice, we stimulate all parts of this system which helps with insomnia in more ways than doctors even fully understand at this point.

Even a short yoga practice can help with this stimulation. Learn more about this rarely discussed system and the way it can help you to get a better night’s sleep.

 

Yoga Will Help You Sleep

People who suffer from insomnia try so many things to help them get a good night’s sleep, but they may not have thought of trying yoga for insomnia. Many insomniacs are amazed that this simple practice can change their lives in so many ways.

If you are someone who has a hard time getting the sleep that you need, try yoga today. Soon you will be enjoying the kind of sleep that you have always wanted.

If you would like to read more articles about keeping yourself healthy and about getting a good night’s sleep, check out the Health section of our site.