Sleep Baby, Sleep!

Image: My nephew Neel Madhav

Sleep – A divine gift to all living beings. According to Indian scriptures, one who analayse one’s sleep well will be able to experience the bliss. Meditation is few steps away from sleep. In deep sleep, all the internal and external sense organs rest in the source. A good sleep rejuvenates the mind and body alike. Sleep deprivation causes imbalance in both mind and body in the form of lack of energy, increased body heat, anxiety, weakness, unable to concentrate, palpitations in some people, etc. Such is the importance of sleep.

Due to some nerve complaints, few years back my mother faced insomnia and I have seen for myself her struggles. Through some herbs, pranayama, and yoga postures, and avoiding the evening tea, she regained her sleep and health. I too have faces some sleepless days earlier during shift changes, PMS, personal tensions etc. But after learning certain techniques, I am happy to say I am getting good sleep.

I am sharing with you all the techniques I learnt to overcome sleeplessness aka insomnia in a holistic way.

Sleep Infusions
The commonly available Chamomile tea, Blue tea are excellent herbal infusions to calm oneself and induce sleep. They are actually not teas as they do not have the Camellia sinensis in them. Both are flowers. Chamomile has a mild flowery flavor whereas Blue tea made from Butterfly pea flower have an earthy flavor. Drinking it 1 hour before bedtime helps you to get a good slumber. Also, please note if you lack sleep, avoid the intake of tea/coffee/any caffeinated drinks after 5 pm as it interferes with your sleep cycle.

Pranayamas for Sleep
Slow deep breathing and Brahmari pranayama are two wonderful breathing methods to induce sleep. Doing Brahmari pranayama with thumbs closing the eardrum and other fingers together closing your eyes or with thumbs closing the eardrum and other fingers together placed on your head is more effective to help you sleep. You can do it in your bed as much as you can. You can learn this simple breathing exercise from a yoga practitioner or by Googling it.

Mudras (Hand gesture) for Sleep
Shakti Mudra is very much effective to induce sleep. You can do it sitting on your bed. It is also good for women to cure menstrual disorders. You can learn this simple mudra from a yoga practitioner or by Googling it.

Music for Sleep
Raga Neelambari of Karnatic music can induce sleep. Most of the Indian lullabies are made in this raga. This raga has a magical effect on calming mind and help induce sleep. It is one of my favorite ragas. You can listen to songs or instrumental music in Neelambari raga through YouTube.

Milk for Sleep
Drinking a cup of warm milk is good for sound sleep. If you have sleeplessness, adding a teaspoon of ashwagandha powder to warm milk and drinking it helps you to get a sound sleep. But, before taking ashwagandha powder ask an ayurvedic doctor how much quantity you can take as it can increase your weight.

Oil for Sleep
Taking a hot shower before bed helps to induce sleep. Adding few drops of lavender essential oil to bath water is good. Oil massage also helps to induce sleep. Putting some coconut oil on the soles of your feet and gently massaging them just before sleep also helps you to sleep well.

Hope you find these helpful. Do share this with your dear ones who are facing sleep difficulties.

Thanks for reading 🙂

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