Benefits of Bedtime Yoga
28th September 2022People often only think of yoga as energizing sun salutations and that the challenging poses get your heart pumping. But yoga is a great way to wind down and lower your stress levels after a busy day. A bedtime yoga routine will not only relax your body but also your mind. Bedtime yoga will not only refresh your body and mind but your spirit.
Benefits
- Reduces Anxiety and Stress
Yoga will help you cut down on stress, worry and anxiety, combine that with deep breathing and meditation and you will improve your sleep. Waking up because of racing thoughts or anxiety can be very scary, try one or two yoga poses in your bed to help you fall back asleep.
- Bedtime Routine
Doing yoga and slow deep breathing exercises before bed will send a signal to your body that it’s time to wind down and get ready for sleep. To get the best results, transition directly from your yoga mat to your bed.
- Improves Circulation
If you want to improve your circulation to lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots and balance your energy levels, do slow deep stretching and mindful breathing exercises. Having healthy circulation will strengthen your immune system, detox your body, and encourages cell regeneration.
- Weight Loss
Daily exercise will help you lose weight and maintain a healthy body type and practising strengthening yoga postures will boost your metabolism which will help you burn calories while asleep. Being a healthy weight will cut down on heartburn and digestion troubles and improve heart health.
- Sore Muscles and Joint Pain
Doing slow deep stretching before bed is will help relieve joint pain, muscle tension, and night-time aches. People who work on their feet or sit at a desk often experience body aches and pains at the end of a long day. A painful and uncomfortable body will not be able to fall asleep. To get a good night’s sleep and relieve some of those aches and pains doing gentle yoga poses will help.
- Insomnia
Practising yoga and meditation regularly will help build restful habits that will reduce insomnia and improve your sleep and overall health.
Poses
There are yoga poses that work to give you energy up in the morning, and then there are some that are designed to relax your body and mind, which makes them perfect for bedtime. The best poses for a good night’s sleep are forward bends, restorative poses, and poses that help you breathe deeply.
- Uttanasana – Standing Forward Bend
- Halasana – Plow Pose
- Marjariasana – Cat
- Shishuasana – Child Pose
- Viparita Karani – Legs Up the Wall Pose
- Savasana – Corpse Pose
- Supta Baddha Konasana – Reclining Butterfly