Getting good quality sleep is one of the most important things we can perfect. Nearly a third of our life is spent sleeping (or at least trying to), and the other two thirds depend on how much sleep we achieve, and how well we achieved it. Sleep or lack thereof can impact almost everything in our daily lives, from concentration, to balancing our moods, regulating our appetite, to cognitive ability and our vital immunity.
Ayurveda has been around for thousands of years, and throughout this time has developed age-old techniques for perfecting the art of sleep and treating sleeplessness. So to help you on your path to all round well-being we have answered some of your most frequently asked sleep questions, and outlined some of the most effective Ayurvedic ways to get some quality shut eye.
How Much Sleep is Enough?
The question ‘how much sleep is enough sleep’ is one which has been around for many, many years and is much debated. With sleep being essential at any age, helping us to power our mind, restore the body and fortify virtually every system in the body, we are all asking how much sleep is needed to feel these benefits?
The National Sleep Foundation advises that healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night, a number that many of us can only dream of, with much of the population getting far less. Knowing how many hours you should be getting each night is the first step in the right directions. So how can Ayurveda help us if we are looking to get more sleep?
What is Ayurvedic Medicine for Sleeplessness?
Incorporating Ayurvedic remedies into your night time ritual can lead to untold benefits when it comes to getting enough quality sleep. We’ve said it before, and we will say it again, getting a good night's sleep is all about prep, prep, prep. Putting your mind and body in the right mindset for sleep is essential for reaching those 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Instead of tuckering yourself out with adrenaline inducing exercise, instead opt for emotionally and physically calming Ayurvedic practices. Whether this is through meditation with the aid of a Hand-Spun Temple Blessed Khadi Shawl, taking a calming Himalayan Healing Salt Bath or a self massage with our Massage Body Oils.
With each of our bodies and minds functioning in very different ways, and each of us having our own unique dosha body type, an Ayurvedic sleep remedy that works for your friend, may not work for you. Ayurvedic sleep medicine is all about trial and error to find the perfect pre bedtime sleep ritual for you. To help you find yours, we have created our sublime Sleep Well Edit so you can browse each of our specifically formulated holistic sleep inducing products. Each of which will soon have you reaching for that ‘do not disturb’ sign as you are gently lulled to sleep with deeply soothing therapeutic oils.
Once you have found the perfect Ayurvedic sleep ritual for you, repeating this each night an hour before bedtime will create a gentle trigger to your mind and body to settle into a deep sleep and a harmonious dream state. The scents of the essential oils from the Sleep Dharma Pillow Mist or our Sundaram & Silence Essential Oil Candle will create a scent memory that will signal to your brain to welcome sleep. With regular use of your Ayurvedic bedtime ritual, the simple act of self massage, sipping on a Herbal Infusion or calming yoga will have you yawning and dreaming of your duvet.
Happy sleeping!
