Yoga before bed: 15 minute yoga workout


In this modern age, sleep disorders are surprisingly common. Regardless of whether it is built up stress that’s preventing sleep, or just because we spend too much time under synthetic lighting, it is apparent that millions of people each year are struggling to get a good night sleep on a regular basis. There are a number of suggestions for alleviating sleeplessness, but a short yoga work out is often overlooked. Deciding to end your day with a 15 minute yoga workout might be the best change you make all year. 



What kind of yoga is best before bed? 


You should aim to find a style of yoga that fully relaxes you. Yoga routines that focus on deep breathing and slow movement will help promote sleep. Any type of vigorous yoga is likely to work against sleep, causing the brain to wake up and is, therefore not recommended before bed. Some of the most popular and highly relaxing styles of yoga routines are: hatha, integral and kripalu.



Hatha is compromised of gentle, basic postures that have little flow between poses. It’s slow paced, filled with simple breathing exercises and seated meditation.



Integral yoga is most focused on integrating the mind, body, and spirit. This practice usually goes beyond the physical teachings of yoga, with a large focus on inspiration, finding fulfillment and promoting peace.



Kirpalu yoga encourages you to go at your own pace, while an emphasis is placed on healing and spiritual transformation. This style of yoga extends past poses with a strong emphasis on self-transformation.




How long should I spend practicing yoga before I sleep?


As a rough guide, aim for a 15-minute yoga workout before bed, but always listen to your body. If, at 10 minutes through the routine, you feel very tired and sleepy, then go to sleep. On the flip side, if you are at the end of your routine and feel like repeating it, feel free. The most important criteria for doing yoga before bed is that you find something that deeply relaxes you, soothing your body and mind. 



How often do I need to practice yoga before bed?


If you start doing yoga before bed every night of the week, you’ll find that it becomes a part of your routine. It’s a great time to reflect on your day. It is absolutely not necessary to do yoga every night before bed, but you might find yourself enjoying it so much that you can’t imagine ending your day any other way.