Sleep

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Eastern and Western Medicine don't agree on everything, but everyone agrees on the importance of good quality sleep. For your brain, your gut, your skin, every individual cell. Sleep is the time that the body regenerates. Humans are a little like rechargeable batteries and how many of us feel like we are running on low power? Whether it’s workload, kids, stress, or FOMO it can be tough to have healthy sleeping habits. And our sleep at night sets the tone for the day ahead. Yogic wisdom from BKS Iyengar reminds us that sleep is also composed of the three qualities. "Sleep is of three types. If one feels heavy and dull after sleep, then that sleep has been tamasic. Disturbed, agitated sleep is rajasic. Sleep that brings lightness, brightness, and freshness is sattvic.”*

These are my top tips for achieving a restful and sattvic night of beauty sleep.

  1. Serene space - to set the stage for tranquil slumber make sure your bedroom is cool, dark and distraction free. Most humans achieve ideal sleep under 68 degrees and at our house we are known to cool only the bedrooms. Block outside lights, and remove tvs, computers, phone chargers, anything with an on light. Make sure colors are calming, linens are soft and cooling. 

  2. Aroma match - as an aromatherapist I use essential oils everyday, our sense of smell connects directly to the mid-brain effecting our state of stress. I love to match certain aromas with particular actions to help train the brain and body to respond. So for sleep I chose lavender, a traditional aroma for calming and rest. I only use lavender during sleep hours. Now that my brain and body are conditioned when I smell lavender its makes me sleepy.  I diffuse the aroma beside my bed and if I wake up in the middle of the night with stressful thoughts a lavender aroma spritz helps me back to sleep. 

  3. Align your energy - if you are new to energy techniques the jist is that we use certain actions to focus our intentions. To focus intention on restful sleep I like to utilize the principles of feng shui in the bedroom. 

        • Keep the space under the bed clear for energy to flow around your sleeping area

        • Put your headboard against a solid wall versus under a window, a north or east wall if possible

        • Balance bedside tables and other decor evenly on both sides for a harmonious night of sleep

  4. Get to bed - I've never been a fan of waking up to the sound of an alarm. Thank you iphone, the new bedtime alarm works much better for me. For the past two years I use the bedtime feature to remind me when to head to bed and now I wake up naturally (and much less irritated) in the morning. You can adjust the alarm based on when you want to be up and how much sleep you need. Along the way I discovered somethings haven't changed since highschool and I still need  9 hours of sleep. As you try it out you'll discover your ideal sleep balance. 

Sweet dreams! 

https://www.sleep.org/articles/temperature-for-sleep/

Excerpt From: B.K.S. Iyengar, John J. Evans & Douglas Abrams. “Light on Life.” iBooks.