What are some good Yoga positions to help relax before bed?

The intent for doing yoga or stretching before bed is to get your body and mind to relax and wind down after a long day and before trying to get some sleep. Any pose or stretch that does not require a lot of effort and concentration (a crow pose would not be ideal, for instance) would be good for relaxing for sleep.

A couple poses you may want to try:

• Inverted Waterfall – lay on your back with your legs flat against a wall. Keeping your legs straight, slowly pull your toes out and away from the wall. The inverted pose has the added benefit that it may actually help with sleep onset.
• Child’s Pose – sitting on your legs, lay your body face down over your thighs and rest your arms (palm up) at your sides. Focus on deep breaths and move slowly into and out of the position.
• Easy Pose – Aptly named, this is simply sitting cross-legged, practicing good posture, and resting your hands palms up on your knees. Make sure you sit up nice and straight.

Remember to take it easy, breathe slowly and deeply and concentrate on your breath to help you clear your mind. And try to keep close to your bed so that you don’t have to traipse up the stairs or all the way across the house before easing into bed.

Related Questions:

• How can an audio track or white noise help me fall asleep?
• What can one do to promote good sleep?
• Is it possible for deep meditation to simulate REM sleep?

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