A Good Night’s Sleep – the best anti-aging

Sleep should be a commodity in the stock exchange! This commodity is getting rare for plenty of people lacking sleep, falling asleep or sleeping through the night. If they could buy this, they would be the happiest men alive!  

Sleeping well directly affects your mental and physical health. If missing, it can take a serious toll on your daytime energy, productivity, emotional balance, and even your weight. Tossing and turning at night, waking several times in early morning, looking at the alarm clock, thinking about the next day’s activities. BUT you can have much more control over the quality of your sleep that you may realize it. You need to make a few changes and compromises for the sake of your health…

Here are some great causes

• Too much thinking, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
• Excessive physical exertion and fasting
• Improper position during sleep and uncomfortable bed
• Excessive intake of dry food and inadequate food
• Loss of immunity and neurological functions
• Accidents, trauma, injuries, shocks

Some of the consequences and complications  

• Feeling tired upon waking
• Sleepiness during the day
• General tiredness
• Irritability & bad temper
• Problems with concentration and memory
• Lower performance on the job or at school
• Slower reaction time while driving
• Mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders or substance abuse
• Long term diseases such as high blood pressure and heart diseases
• Medication and its side effects

WHAT TO DO

• A detox cure (Panchakarma) as a purification
• Check your nutrition habits and your lifestyle
• Herbal intake to reduce stress and promote relaxation
• Treat the head with different treatments such as “Shirodhara” oil pouring over the forehead, “Thalam” herbal paste on top of the head; Treat the nose, eyes, ears to give clarity to the sense organs; “Padabhyanga” feet-massage; ”Abhyanga” full body massage
• Check your day-night rhythm – regularity is the golden rule!
• Check your current emotional, financial, social and familiar situation

 Lifestyle changes for a good sleep

• Make a summary of your day with positive things that happened and be grateful for what you have achieved and for all you have
• Relax and clean your mind with 5 to 10 Minutes meditation concentrating on your Breath. Pranayama, Padmasana, Shavasana are helpful to reduce Stress and calm your mind
• Make sure you have the right temperature in your bedroom between 16 and 18 degrees.
• Avoid all the electronical devises: tablet, Handy, TV, computer, and especially the LED-Display with the blue light INSTEAD create a relaxing, clean, quiet, cool and enjoyable room to induce your sleep
• Eat light and early in the evening – at least 4 hours before bed time
• Make sure your bed is soft and hygienic with head pointing towards east or south
• Avoid to use too much your senses by watching TV, surfing on the web, having disputes…INSTEAD listen to pleasant soft music, a lovely book, create an inviting good atmosphere with pleasant smells of essential oils
• Avoid stimulants like caffeinated drinks, cigarettes, Alcohol
• Keep your bedtime and wake time consistent from day to day, including weekends
• Reduce drinking in the evening to avoid waking up to urinate
• Take a warm/hot bath or shower, and/or a foot bath before bed time

Yoga and Meditation

Yoga is an effective treatment because it addresses insomnia’s physical and psychological aspects. Yoga revives the body, evokes peace and calm, relieves stress and anxiety. It can be used as both holistic and complimentary treatment method in sleeping disorders

Meditation is a very effective behavioral intervention to calm your mind, to let go of your repetitive thoughts, to concentrate on your breathing, to clean your rubbish negative vicious thoughts and keep you centered.

Just tried them, you have everything to win?