FINDING SLEEP

Here are some nurturing ideas for getting a good night’s rest:

1. Go to bed at around the same time every night. Do the same routine. ie. put on slippers, brush teeth, wash face, read book, close eyes. If it's the same every night it will signal to the body… sleep is coming soon.

2. Lavender Essential Oil, a drop in the pillow. Very calming.

3. Massage your feet before bed. Dry massage is good, a warm oil massage with sesame oil even better. Add a few drops of Lavender to the bottle of oil, who wouldn't fall asleep. Great for children and babies.  See "skin" label to the right for dreamy skin oil recipes for different skin types.

4. In Aryurveda difficulty sleeping/ falling asleep is a vata disorder. Simply put, the nervous system is out of balance. Warm oil ingested in your food and placed on your skin will feed and calm your nerves. Eating warm, cooked foods instead of raw also helps. Drinking a cup of heated milk (heat till it begins to bubble on the sides of the pan) You can also steep a pinch of saffron, or add few drops of ghee to the milk. Great for children and babies.

5. Have a journal next to your bed so you can write down anything that may be on your mind and let the book take care of it for you.

6. Bach Flower Remedies makes some really lovely tinctures that are wonderful as a sleep aid. I’ve also used these a lot when traveling or overworked. There are different remedies for different kinds of sleep issues. You can find them at health food stores or at www.bachflower.com

7. Take the television out of the bedroom. Limit screen time (computer included) before bed. Watching screens stimulates/ over stimulates the nervous system.

8. Count backwards from 100, visualizing each number. note: If you are accountant this may not work for you. My insomniac accountant friend says she likes to imagine sewing the sleep and waking worlds together.

9. Remember just the simple act of lying down for eight hours will give you all the rest you need, especially if you are relaxed and calm. So take a few deep breaths and enjoy putting your feet up for a long while. You deserve it.


10. If you wake up at 3 am and can't go back to sleep it may be one of two things. 2-6 am is the vata time of night ruling the nervous system and creativity. To calm vata, rub sesame oil gently across your forehead in one motion, a drop in the belly button and on your feet to calm. I've also heard an alternative idea that it's your creativity calling you and to get up and write or draw or create enjoying the serene quiet of the early morning. Then catch up on the rest by meditating.

These ideas are not intended to be medical advice.