If you struggle with sleeping, here’s why you should continue working on it!
Sleep challenges often stem from an increase of Vata in the nervous system and mind. Ayurveda describes sleep as a basic instinct of life, essential to all living beings, and rejuvenates, reenergizes, and heals our body, mind, and spirit.
Sleep is one of the three pillars of good health, known as 𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗿𝗮. Then there’s food (𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮) and control over sexual energy (𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗮).
While we sleep, any sensory impressions you’ve taken in from the day get digested or don’t, which then would create a tongue coating upon rising. This is considered ama.
The liver is one of the main organs to benefit from a proper night’s sleep and when sleep habits are proper, our hormones are balanced, our skin is clearer, our energy is abundant and our weight is healthy.
Here are five ways you can make the act of sleeping sacred:
✨ Establish a regular bedtime and wake-time routine. Going to bed and rising at the same time each day will allow the nervous system to regulate and your body to move with the natural circadian rhythms.
Ayurveda recommends being in bed before the pitta time of evening, 10:00pm, and rising according to your doshic state. Those that are predominately Kapha need less sleep and should rise 90 minutes before sunrise. Pitta’s – 45 minutes before sunrise and Vata’s – 30 minutes before sunrise.
✨ Practice mindfulness by unplugging your devices and avoiding stimulating activities. Calm your mind at least 30-45 minutes before bedtime with a cup of chamomile tea, diffuse lavender, or frankincense essential oils, and massage your feet with sesame oil.
✨ Reduce and eliminate caffeine as this can affect your body’s natural sleep rhythm.
✨ Free your mind by journaling any to-dos and thoughts that might be circling in your mind.
✨ Let go and feel more at ease by taking 10 full abdominal-chest breaths to settle in.
If you struggle with falling or staying asleep, insomnia, or restlessness, these nourishing practices will support you ✨
You can also incorporate Ayurvedic herbal support and can find our sleep-well tincture and teas available in our apothecary.
Sleep Well Friends!
