A Soothing Yoga Routine for Better Sleep and Insomnia Relief

Yoga as therapy is the use of yoga as exercise, consisting mainly of postures called asanas, as a gentle form of exercise and relaxation applied specifically with the intention of improving health. This form of yoga is widely practised in classes, and may involve meditation, imagery, breath work (pranayama) and calming music as well as postural yoga.

At least three types of health claims have been made for yoga: magical claims for medieval haṭha yoga, including the power of healing; unsupported claims of benefits to organ systems from the practice of asanas; and more or less well supported claims of specific medical and psychological benefits from studies of differing sizes using a wide variety of methodologies.

Systematic reviews have found beneficial effects of yoga on low back pain and depression, but despite much investigation, little or no evidence of benefit for specific medical conditions. The study of trauma-sensitive yoga has been hampered by weak methodology.

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The secret to using yoga for better sleep lies in practicing calm and restorative poses consistently.

Though it may be tempting to think you should tire yourself out with intense workouts before bed, you actually want to calm your nervous system and wind down from your day.

An older 2004 study Trusted Source found that a regular yoga practice improved sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and how quickly participants fell asleep, among other improvements for those living with insomnia.

Follow this routine to get started.

1. Supine Twist

Twists, in general, help detox, release tension, and reduce back pain. Beyond that, it’s been found that certain reclining poses help relax your baroreflex, which helps lower your blood pressure. This can assist in helping you get to and stay asleep.

Muscles Worked: Glutes, erector spinae, external obliques

1. Lie on your back on the mat. As you inhale, draw your knees into your chest.
2. As you exhale, extend your arms out your side at shoulder height and let your knees fall to the side, stacking your knees on top of each other. If you need or want, you can put a small cushion (like a throw
   pillow) under your bottom knee to support the twist.
3. As you breathe into the twist, check in with your body and be sure neither shoulder blade is pulling up off the ground. If it is, you can raise your legs a little and add a cushion (or another cushion) to keep your shoulders pressing into the mat.
4. Stay here for at least 5 deep breaths. On an inhale, lift your legs back to your chest, pressing into your arms to help move them, and then drop them to the other side.

2. Forward Fold

Forward Fold is a gentle inversion. It activates your parasympathetic nervous system. This system slows down bodily processes. It will release tension and help you get to sleep.

Muscles Worked: Latissimus dorsi, teres minor and major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, hamstrings

1. Begin standing upright with your feet hip-distance apart.
2. Take a deep inhale as you raise your arms up and out until they meet above your head.
3. As you exhale, pull your knees up by contracting the fronts of your thighs and bend forward from the waist.
4. Settle into the stretch by breathing in gently and grasping opposite elbows, letting your arms hang directly beneath your head — widen your stance if you’re at all worried about balance here.
5. Take in 10 to 15 slow, deep breaths before you gently rise to stand.

3. Puppy Pose

Puppy Pose is a modified Child’s Pose. It stretches the upper back, spine, and shoulders. This helps relieve tension and stress. The forehead on the ground also stimulates the pituitary gland, which is a major source of melatonin, which helps you in getting to sleep.

Muscles stretched: Latissimus dorsi, teres major, rotator cuff muscles, abdominals, deltoids

1. Get into all fours on the mat, keeping your hips stacked over your knees and your shoulders stacked over your wrists.
2. Without moving your hips, begin to walk your hands out in front of you, keeping your elbows off the floor.
3. As you exhale, tuck your toes under and move your buttocks about halfway to your heels and gently drop your forehead to the mat.
4. Breathe here, keeping a slight curve in your lower back, pressing your hands down, and stretching through your arms and spine.
5. Stay here for 5 to 10 breaths before walking your hands back so you’re on all fours again.

4. Child’s Pose

Child’s Pose stretches the hips, thighs, and ankles. It also passively stretches the back torso and gently relaxes the muscles of your front body. This pose reduces stress, stimulates melatonin, and calms the mind.

Muscles stretched: Latissimus dorsi, lower back, shoulders, hips

1. From all fours, bring your big toes together so they’re touching, widen your knees to at least hip width, and then sit back on your heels.
2. As you exhale, lay your torso between your thighs. If it’s more comfortable, you can widen your feet or lay a long, narrow cushion between your legs to support your torso.
3. When you’re lying fully in Child’s Pose, you can have your arms out in front of you, stretching, but as a follow-up to Puppy Pose, you can lay your hands alongside your torso, palms up.
4. Stay here for at least 10 breaths. When you rise from it, do so as you inhale and use your hands to support you if you like.

5. Legs-up-the-wall

Legs-up-the-wall is a gentle inversion. It’s also completely passive, so it helps prepare your brain and body for sleep.

Muscles stretched: Hamstrings and neck, front of the torso

1. Move your mat to an area of the wall with space and sit parallel to it.
2. Lie down with your feet on the ground, knees bent.
3. Resting on your lower back, lift your feet and gently swing your torso so it’s perpendicular to the wall. Place your sitting bones up against the base of the wall and your legs up against the wall. Get comfortable here, moving your torso and inching your lower back closer to the wall if need be. Extend your legs up the wall. (Note: Placing a cushion or folded blanket under your lower back can add to your comfort here.)
4. Rest your arms out to your sides at whatever angle feels good, palms up. Stay here as long as you like, breathing deeply and releasing tension.

The takeaway

Doing these exercises before bedtime tonight can provide you with immediate results in the form of a better night’s sleep. Even better news: If you add them to your nighttime routine regularly, the effects will increase, and your sleep will continue to improve.