Everyone experiences trouble sleeping at one time or another. It can be very frustrating, and it can negatively affect your mood and health. If stress is causing your sleep to suffer, yoga is a phenomenal way to help stimulate relaxation. Gentle body positions can soothe your mind and muscles at bedtime and help you beat insomnia. These are some of my favorite poses to do to unwind before getting into bed.
1. Double Pigeon
Double Pigeon is an easy forward bend pose accessible for all levels—beginners and advanced. If you’re new to yoga, simply cross at the ankles before folding forward. It is a wonderfully relaxing exercise to do before bedtime, especially if you have tightness in your hips and lower back. Feel free to sit on top of a pillow to make the pose even more relaxing.
2. Child’s Pose
The ultimate resting position, Child’s Pose helps to calm the mind and relieve tension in the body, especially the back. Allow your torso to fold over your legs with your arms extended out or along your sides. Rest your forehead on the ground or mat and take long, slow, deep breaths.
3. Legs Up The Wall
This simple and restorative pose is best performed against a wall. It is one of my favorites for evening relaxation and stress relief, because it helps me unwind and prepare for sleep. Try staying in the pose for as long as ten minutes, with your eyes closed. It is also a nice idea to use a soothing eye pillow to increase the sense of overall relaxation.
4. Double Knee Restorative Twist
Lie down on your back and hug both knees into your chest. Gently rest both of your knees to the floor on your left side. Extend your right arm out to the right and gaze towards the right (or close your eyes with your head in that direction). Take several deep breaths, relaxing and releasing stress from your body and mind. Then repeat on the other side. Gentle twists help to relieve tension throughout entire spine.
5. Savasana
Prepare your body for sleep mode with corpse pose, which helps to release all tension, control, and stress from your body and mind. Place your attention on your body as you unwind after a busy and active day. Let go, let go, and let go some more. By focusing your mind on the present moment only, you take your away from what may be causing stress or restlessness.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
Would be nice if there were pictures to go along with the discriptions
I agree. I am new to this. Pictures are needed
Exactly my thoughts
Agree!
Can you re-do with pictures please. Don’t want to injure myself. Thanks.
Elizabeth Reynolds 17teby greeniwth
I find it impossible to understand what the poses are by the descriptions which are really vague. If you are not going to put any pictures you need to be a lot more detailed otherwise people might injure themselves trying to do the wrong thing. It would be much better no description at all.
Nice i wanna see
Pictures, please.
Totally agree…pictures are complete necessary for those not familiar with yoga poses.
It would be nice to have a picture as an attachment , please.
Agree completely. Why post an article like this without photos and more detailed description?
If the comments are moderated as the disclaimer states, why no response?
Yes agree with other comments. Not familiar with yoga positions so pictures to accompany the move would greatly assist.
For those looking for pictures, the main one is Child’s Pose (just for your reference).
Pictures please
Pictures please.
My gosh, pictures AND instructions are available in even the cheapest yoga books–not to mention all over the Internet! I thought part of the point of using Fitbit was to NOT be lazy!
Although pictures would be nice. We are in the technological age and all you need to to is google yoga + the name.
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBJfGSxyFcs
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqYEhCIL6ns
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OQEIiZLY-0
4. https://www.yogaoutlet.com/guides/how-to-do-reclined-spinal-twist-in-yoga
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh8z3FHjdW4
For the Yoga positions, pictures would be very helpful.
Yes, need pictures….
No point leaving a message no one answered
Pictures would help
I do yoga and I’m finding it hard to figure out which pose they’re talking about. Pics please
Why isn’t there a photo to accompany each of the 5 poses? The descriptions aren’t enough.
It is ridiculous to put a description of a yoga pose without a picture! What’s the point of doing it in the first place. What a mistake !!!