Happy Healthy YOU!
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Kelly Spencer - Happy Healthy YOU
(A wellness column by Kelly Spencer: writer, life coach, yoga & meditation teacher, holistic healer and a mindful life enthusiast!)
Do you have troubles falling asleep and/or staying asleep? If the answer is yes…You are not alone. It is estimated that two-thirds of the population has difficulty sleeping for varied reasons and millions of prescriptions for sleeping pills are written annually each year. Millions!
There are many reasons for sleeplessness. One, and a very common account, is an inability to shut off the mind. Worrying, over thinking, burdens and analyzing can keep our body awake as our mind moves fast. If you are one of the folk that feels tired, looks forward to bedtime and then lay on your pillow, but then your thoughts begin to run a marathon race, here are a few holistic alternatives to the prescribed sleeping pill.
Try drinking a lemon balm, lavender and linden teas in the evening. These can have a calming effect on the nervous system. As well lavender itself is great for insomnia and relaxation. You could enjoy a lavender bath or place a lavender eye pillow on when you retire to bed or even using lavender essential oil with carrier oil and using it to massage your shoulders, neck, arms and chest. Or better yet, get someone else to rub on you, including your upper back!
Doing a few minutes of slow, deep breathing is also extremely beneficial. Our breath is a vital force. Pranayama is a Sanskrit ancient word for controlled breathing. Taking slow mindful breaths, in and out through the nose, with your eyes closed has many benefits that aid in rest. Among other bonuses, this type of controlled breathing changes our brain waves. We move from Beta brain waves, which can be sporadic, and erratic to Alpha brain waves which are more symmetrical and smooth creating calm within. Guided relaxation meditations can also have this sedating effect.
Stress is a doozy. When we become stressed our nervous system becomes imbalanced and our muscles tense. Walks in nature, yoga or energy healing are just a couple methods to release stress. Doing the mindful controlled breathing mentioned above, throughout the day also keeps stress in check.
Sometimes, it is that we are not eating as well as we think we are. The fuel and food choices we make have a strong connection with our sleep patterns (such as sugar and caffeine intake).
With women, there can be spiking and dipping of hormones in our natural cycles. Both progesterone and estrogen are hormones that promote or challenge sleep. A Professional Homeopath treats the individual as a whole and can provide remedy which is natural and effective.
Also examine your before-bed-habits. Avoiding “screen time” (TV, laptop, phone) just before bed can make a big difference.
A chiropractor would also ask if you are experiencing aches and pains that cause you to wake, and perhaps what your mattress and pillow conditions are.
Examine what the probable cause(s) are if you are having difficulty falling and staying asleep, and take action in the direction needed. Wishing you, many restful Zzzzz’s.
(If you would like to see an article on a specific topic, please email kelly@indigolounge.ca)