So many of my students and counselling clients past and present have struggled with insomnia from time to time. Insomnia is one of the surest symptoms the mind/body is producing an overactive energy effecting the brain and the hormones which is stimulatory in nature.
One of the reasons insomnia is experienced is when there is an oversupply of cortisol in the body, or you may have low serotonin or melatonin. From the Nutritional Therapy Association (2021) 'Excessive stress always raises our levels of the stress-coping giant, cortisol, the chief of our stress-response team (which also includes adrenaline and endorphin.) Chronic stress can lead to a permanent hyper-cortisol state—even long after the precipitating events have resolved. When this disturbance occurs at night, when cortisol levels should be at their lowest, the quality of insomnia is typically an alert “ready to get to work” one or an agitated and hyper-vigilant, or even a startled or shocked sensations on sudden nocturnal awakening'.
Developing a set of habits at night time that you perform before bed is a wonderful way to get to sleep initially. These sleep rituals can be profound in changing the quality and quantity of our sleep. Here's a few tips - https://www.thesleepjudge.com/13-proven-relaxing-bedtime-rituals-you-need-right-now/
I have found the first important challenge is to practice Maitri - self friendship. If you are awake and you want to be asleep and you're beating yourself up you have very little chance of getting back to sleep, so you have to be friendly with yourself. If I can't sleep or I wake up at 3am I get out of bed, sometimes meditating, or having a shower and a cup of tea. Definitely doing yoga, warming up the major joints can feel lovely, especially if you have been under stress.
Can't wait to teach you all tomorrow at 10am. If you are join
ing us please....
* Don't eat a full meal for 2 hrs prior to the class, fruit & nuts or okay
* Please wear loose comfortable clothing
* Please have a yoga mat, strap, 2 blocks, 2 cushions handy
* Please let me know if you have any physical, emotional, mental or neurological issues as soon as you can...
In kindness,
Kyla
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