Yoga Helps Relieve Sleep Problems

There are few moments more anxiety-inducing than bedtime for an insomniac. In addition to leaving sufferers feeling tired day in and day out, insomnia can create anxiety issues, muscle aches and depression. Although there are plenty of over-the-counter medications and prescriptions available from your doctor to help insomnia, people looking for a natural cure have been turning to yoga for help.

The ancient practice of yoga has been helping practitioners worldwide for centuries. When practiced routinely, yoga is proven to relieve stress, ward off aches and pains and increase the production of endorphins that help people get to sleep.  According to a study from Harvard Medical School, “There is good evidence for cognitive and physiological arousal in chronic insomnia.” A recent study found that when people with sleep disorders practice yoga, “…statistically significant improvements were observed in sleep efficiency, total sleep time, total awake time, sleep onset latency, and wake time after sleep onset at end-treatment as compared with pretreatment values.” 

Yoga was also found to be helpful for senior citizens – a group that has a high incidence of sleep problems. A 12-week study conducted in Israel on participants aged 60 to 87 found that, “Practicing yoga for at least 25 minutes daily for 12 weeks improved participants’ sleep and enhanced psychological and emotional well-being.”

So, if you are suffering from insomnia and looking for natural way to fall asleep, next time, why not try putting down the bottle of pills and picking up a yoga mat instead? Of course, be sure to see a doctor if your sleep problem persists and always make sure you are in good physical shape before practicing any demanding activity such as yoga.

Namaste.