Have a bad night sleep? You’re not alone! 27 percent of people in a new Consumer Reports survey of 4,023 U.S. adults said they had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep most nights, and 68 percent—or an estimated 164 million Americans—struggled with sleep at least once a week.

Recently, researchers have presented overwhelming evidence that shows a lack in sleep directly affects our ability to manage stress levels and complete daily functions. But, it can be much more serious than that.  In a study conducted by Harvard Medical School, the results showed that sleeping less than five hours a night increases the risk of death from all causes by about 15 percent.

Still, don’t reach for the Ambien just yet! You may be aware of the many benefits of Yoga, ranging from increased physical strength and flexibility to improved breathing and mental focus, but did you know yoga also has positive effects on sleep?

 

The Correlation Between Yoga and Sleep

Both yoga and sleep are heavily tied to the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the “rest and digest” system. As the nickname implies, the parasympathetic nervous system is the part of your body responsible for the sleeping processes that occur throughout the night.

Studies have shown that doing yoga sequences before bed, or even throughout the day, can improve your falling and staying asleep. This is due to the slow and deep diaphragmatic breathing that is done throughout each yoga session as well as the stimulated blood flow. The diaphragmatic breathing activates the “rest and digest” mechanisms of the body, which in turn reduces blood pressure and slows the heart and breathing rates. This results in a much more relaxed entry state for sleep.

Here are some of the best yoga poses to improve your sleep that will ensure a good night’s rest :

  1. Childs Pose
  2. Forward Bends – any variation
  3. Spinal Twists
  4.  Corpse Pose
  5. Cat-Cow Stretch

Here at Yogis On The Go, we love our sleep! But who doesn’t!? Check out our sessions today and ask for tips on the best poses for your sleep needs! Our yogis can also personalize your yoga sessions to find the perfect yoga sequence to help you sleep peacefully.