Recharge and improve your sleep in May 2/4

Do you wish you had more energy? Are you having trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night or wish you could stop overthinking in the evenings? Let yoga teacher Amanda Holmström guide you through May with tips and guidance for better sleep and ways to recharge.

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​I hope you are still with me on detoxing from electronics one hour before chosen bedtime? If not, don’t worry, there is no such thing as failure! Creating new habits and breaking old ones takes time so be gentle with yourself. As every day is a new beginning, every evening is of importance. Begin today and add a breathing technique to your routine to lower stress hormones and tap into the parasympathetic nervous system.

1. ​Set a time for yourself when you wish to be in bed
2. Detox from electronics one hour pre bedtime (at the latest 10pm)
3. At least 3 minutes of conscious breathing

Breathe, but how?
Throughout the day one nostril is more dominant than the other one which automatically alternates after a two-hour period. The right nostril is associated with the sympathetic nervous system, keeping us focused, energized and alert and the left nostril is associated to the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation, digestion and healing. 

Try left nostril breathing to tap into the parasympathetic nervous system, a breathing technique that in Sanskrit is called Chandra-Bhendi. Chandra translates to moon, which represents cooling energies. 

1. Start by sitting in a comfortable position and block the right nostril with the right thumb with the palm flat, fingers pointing up. 
2. Close the eyes and begin to breathe deeply in and out through the left nostril. 
3. Allow the exhalation to be longer than the inhalation.
4. Count as you breathe (especially helpful if the mind is restless to center yourself). 
5. Inhale to a count of four and exhale to a count of eight 
6. Give your breath your full awareness, experiencing every breath with curiosity. 
7. Continue for at least three minutes before slowly lowering down the right hand, begin to breathe normally again and experience the cooling effects of the practice.

If you wake up during the night and have difficulties falling asleep again, try sitting up in bed for a couple of minutes to practice left nostril breathing, before lying down on your right side to enable the left nostril to be open and dominant. 

You can also check out Satu Tuomelas videos for Nadi Shodhana and Ujjayi Breathing for more inspiration!
Surrender into cooling moon energies. Bedtime yoga and strategies for letting go of the day coming up, so stay tuned, stay rested.

Namaste, 
Amanda

Videosuositukset

• Ujjayi - syvä kurkkuhengitys – Satu Tuomela
• Nadi Shodana - hengitysharjoitus joka puhdistaa nadeja ja rauhoittaa mieltäsi – Satu Tuomela
• Calming and Grounding Yoga Nidra Practice – Mona Anand
• Fall asleep Yoga Nidra practice – Mona Anand
• Rentouttuva hyvän yön yin – Kaisa Kärkkäinen

Lue lisää

• Recharge and improve your sleep in May 1/4
• Vaivu syvään uneen – Vinkkejä jooga-asennoista

Photo taken by Saara Oinonen at Wasa Yoga Center