Difficulty in falling asleep or awakening in the middle of sleep and being unable to fall back to sleep, both are  what is known as Insomnia. It is very common in those who suffer from some kind of stress or depression. The most common causes of insomnia include excessive fatigue, anxiety, pain or discomfort anywhere in the body, fever or indigestion.

To avoid the long term effects of insomnia, there are a number of alternative cures that are currently marketed. A combination of dietary and lifestyle changes is claimed to be the most helpful approach in curing insomnia.

In the Traditional Chinese Medicine system, treatment for insomnia has been included throughout its history. The typical approach for curing insomnia involves and utilizes acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle analysis, herbology and other techniques, with the goal of resolving the problem at a subtle level. Although these methods have not yet been scientifically proven, some people suffering from insomnia report that these remedies are sufficient to break the insomnia cycle without any need for sedatives and sleeping tablets.

Considering the Buddhist tradition, people suffering from insomnia or nightmares are advised to meditate on “loving-kindness”, or metta.  The Buddhists believe that this practice of generating a feeling of love and goodwill will have a soothing and calming effect on the mind and body. This practice is claimed to stem partly from the creation of r positive thoughts and relaxing feelings, and partly from the pacification of negative ones. According to the Buddhists tradition, in the Mett? Sutta, Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, tells the gathered monks that easeful sleep is one benefit of this form of meditation.

Yoga also benefits your sleep in various ways. Various asanas, pranayama, and yoga-nidra are all helpful tools in your efforts to re-establish a healthy sleeping patter. Here are some of the asanas which can help you have a good night’s sleep:

•  Tada Asana  
•  Salabha Asana  
•  Bhujanga Asana
•  Shava Asana  
•  Yoga Nidra

Yoga has long been known to have beneficial effects on the nervous system and the brain. Certain yoga asanas not only increase the blood supply to the sleep center in the brain, but they also normalizes the sleep cycle.

Yoga practice can make you fall asleep sooner and improve the quality of your sleep so that you need less. You can have a more restful sleep because of the relaxing aspects of yoga and the subsequent relieving of stress, tension and fatigue. The practice of breathing in yoga allows for more oxygen in the body providing clarity in the mind.

Yoga is proved to be of great help to insomniacs as it relaxes the tensions that accumulate in the muscles, the emotions and the mind, allowing the practitioner to rest deeply.

Joan Willis, journalist on all topics for travel and health.

Tagged with: alternative • Insomnia • therapies

Filed under: Acupuncture Depression Therapy

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