Ease into a restful night with a quiet yoga practise focused on deep breathing to calm your mind and release physical tension. Yoga for better sleep is a combination of breath and movement. It activates your parasympathetic nervous system and helps counteract stress. Many of the restorative versions of the poses shown here use a prop underneath your forehead to encourage relaxation around the eyes and additional soothing of your nervous system.
Props – Bolster, block, blanket
Breath – Breathe with long, full, deep inhalations and exhalations
If you have 10 minutes try this practice before bedtime.
Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)
1 min
[10–15 breaths]
Walk your feet to your hands. With feet hip-width apart and a slight bend in the knees, hold your elbows. Exhale and lengthen down through the crown of your head. To come up, release your arms, root through your feet, and slowly rise.
Reclining Bound Angle (Supta Baddha Konasana)
2 min
[30-40 breaths]
This pose eases tension in your hips and groin area. Lie down on the mat. Bend your knees, and place your feet on the floor, close to your tailbone. Bring the soles of your feet together and allow your knees to relax away from each other. If you have tight hips, you can adjust your feet so that they are further away from your tailbone. Take your hand over the head and hold opposite elbows.
Legs Up the Wall
5 min
You can use a cushion or bolster under your hips. To modify this pose, place the soles of your feet together or open your legs wide.
Sit with your right side alongside a wall. Swing up your legs against the wall as you lie on your back, placing your hips against or close to the wall. Rest your arms in a comfortable position.
Follow your breath and focus on releasing tension in your body.
Stay in this pose for up to 5 minutes.
Upavistha Konasana (Seated Wide-Legged Standing Forward Fold)
1 min
[10–15 breaths]
Sit with your legs wide open 4 to 5 feet apart. Inhale and lift your chest. Exhaling, fold forward from the hips. Place your forehead on a block. Inhale and slowly rise.
Wide Knee Child Pose (Balasana)
2 min
[30 breaths]
This resting pose provides a sense of calm and stability. For this pose kneel on the floor and bring your big toes together. Separate your knees hips-width apart or as wide as the edges of the mat.
Exhale and sink your torso onto your thighs.
Savasana (Corpse Pose)
End this sequence here with Savasana for 2-3 minutes or as long as you want.
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Picture Credit : Anuja Chowdry
These are really relaxing postures and I will definitely be trying them out tonight before bed to help me destress, stretch and clear my mind. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this. I’m always so amped up at night for some reason.