| Many people suffer with insomnia, or have a hard time | | | | learned. Also, learn to forgive yourself for anything that |
| sleeping at night. They feel that their mind is just too | | | | may not have gotten done, or anything else that may |
| active to fall asleep, and when they do sleep, it seems | | | | be bothering you. In doing so, you are preparing your |
| to be restless sleep. There are various opinions and | | | | body for sleep meditation, and are giving yourself a |
| theories about how much sleep a person needs to | | | | better chance for restful sleep. |
| function properly, however, it can vary depending on | | | | Next, before you begin sleep meditation, examine your |
| factors such as: | | | | eating habits. If you tend to eat shortly before you go |
| * health | | | | to bed, you may be hindering restful sleep without |
| * physical activity | | | | even knowing it. When you eat directly before |
| * other circumstances | | | | bedtime, your body will be busy with digestion, thus, it |
| One thing everyone can agree on in regards to sleep. | | | | can be hard to sleep deeply. If you feel you need to |
| The more peaceful the sleep, the better and more | | | | eat close to bedtime, try to eat foods that are easily |
| rested we feel in the morning. | | | | digested. This will help prepare your body for sleep |
| Sleep meditation is a form of regular meditation that | | | | meditation, as well as help promote deep, restful sleep. |
| can help relax the mind before sleeping, as well as | | | | Finally, before you start sleep meditation, you should |
| relieve stress. This can result in more peaceful and | | | | practice left nostril breathing. Our two nostrils are often |
| deep sleep. There are many forms of sleep meditation. | | | | associated with two different types of energy. It is said |
| No matter which type you choose, there are some | | | | that when we breathe through our right nostrils, we are |
| steps you should take before you begin the meditation | | | | energized and stimulated. When we breathe through |
| process. This will help prepare your body for deeper, | | | | our left nostrils, we are relaxed and calm. During most |
| more restful sleep. | | | | hours of the day, approximately every two ours our |
| Before you begin sleep meditation, it is important for | | | | dominant nostril changes. After we eat, our dominant |
| you to slow down your activities. Do not engage in | | | | nostril will most often change to the left one, in order to |
| heavy mental activity, and do not plan for the next | | | | give our bodies the energy needed to digest food. This |
| day. If you wish, you can write down a to-do list | | | | is why we commonly feel sleepy after we eat. To |
| before sleep meditation, but leave it in the other room. | | | | practice left nostril dominance before bed, we can sit |
| You should try to feel good about the day that is | | | | quietly, blocking off the right nostril, while breathing long |
| ending. It is best to acknowledge all that has been | | | | and deep through our left nostril. Doing this can actually |
| accomplished, and all the lessons that have been | | | | help facilitate sleep. |