Ayurvedic Secrets to Sleeping Well

Importance of Sleep

To quote Ayurveda, “sleep is one of the three pillars of life, the other two being food and the principles of living in-sync with the universe”. Sleep is a rejuvenating process and adequate and rhythmic sleep patterns are crucial to homeostasis. A change in the sleep pattern may aggravate existing health conditions or lead to new ones.

Sleep is essential for overall health and wellbeing. It allows the mind and the body to repair, and refresh. The brain will refuse to function well without adequate sleep, and this could impair focus, clarity of thought, emotional stability or balance, and memory.

Most adults usually need around eight to nine hours of sleep whereas young children and teenagers may need more. Daily chores, work schedules, personal or professional stress, a non-conducive or a disruptive environment or ambience in the bedroom, and poor health can prevent us from getting sufficient rest. For many of us, a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle habits are known to ensure adequate and a good quality of sleep. But for some, chronic lack of sleep could lead to a sleep disorder.

Ill-effects of Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder affecting millions. People suffering from insomnia find it difficult to fall asleep and to remain asleep, which is why they experience fatigue. This condition leads to several health problems like weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

A couple of bad nights can leave you grumpy which is mostly a temporary phase, but chronic insomnia is known to lead to mood swings, irritation, anxiety, anger, sadness or worse still, depression. Not only can it affect productivity at home, school or work, it also increases the risk of unwanted and undesirable incidents or accidents.

There are various ways to improve upon the quantity and quality of sleep, a few of which are mentioned below.

• Try and stick to a sleep schedule – sleep off and wake up at the same time each day.
• Do not exercise just before bedtime – exercise causes an adrenalin rush and falling asleep soon after getting into bed may prove to be difficult
• Maintain a calm, pleasing and peaceful ambience in the bedroom. Colors and light are very important
• Use comfortable and supportive pillows and mattresses
• Run a warm bath before bedtime or listen to soft, calming music
• Stay away from screens of all shapes and sizes
• Turn off electronic devices
• Place phones on silent mode
• Do not bring work home, or worse still, into bed
• Learn how to manage stress
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine before bedtime – they are stimulants
• Avoid alcohol

How Doshas Affect Sleep Patterns?

According to Ayurveda, disturbed, irregular, insufficient sleep, or lack of sleep may result in an aggravation in the Vata dosha, which in turn may lead to mild to severe headaches, migraine, and insomnia.

How Yoga Influences Sleep?

It is a known fact that along with relaxation techniques, Yoga involves stretching of muscles which in simple terms, is exercise. The physical exercise the body gets in a session of Yoga, leads to a decrease in sleep latency and disturbances, with a betterment in the quality of sleep. And the mental relaxation which the body gets, translates into a relaxed, uncluttered mind. Yoga is a prominent method that is utilized in Insomnia treatment as well.

Role of Diet

It is a well-known fact that the food we consume, provides the nutrients, minerals and proteins needed by the body to function well, which includes getting sufficient sleep. Our food choices during the day certainly affect our sleep at night.

• Avoid consumption of caffeine and/or alcohol before bedtime
• Avoid heavy, spicy, or fatty foods through the day and definitely so, close to bedtime
• Cut down on sugar
• Keep yourself hydrated through the day
• Remember the old proverb “Breakfast like a king and dinner like a pauper”? Put this into practice

Insomnia or any sleep disorder can be disruptive to your lifestyle. It hampers productivity, increases irritability, and may lead to undesired incidents or accidents. Not only does it affect your physical well-being, it affects your mental state too. If you struggle with insomnia or any sleep disorder which is creating a hindrance in your life, it is advisable to contact a healthcare professional. The Healer’s Clinic is one of the most recognized and reputed places to receive insomnia treatment in Dubai, UAE. We focus on holistic healing and help you manage insomnia and other sleep disorders, without any side effects. For more information, you can visit our website, or get in touch with our team at info@thehealersclinic.com.