Ayurvedic Bedtime Practices that Ensure Restful & Invigorating Sleep

Highlights

• The main culprit for a bad sleep is an imbalanced vata dosha.

• Pacify vata by establishing a fixed night time routine that signals the brain that it’s time to sleep

• Warm milk with dalchini, haldi, and elaichi should be had before bedtime.

• Applying sesame oil to the forehead and the feet pacifies vata and induces restful sleep.

There’s nothing like a night of tossing and turning to dampen mood the next day. But with a couple simple Ayurvedic bedtime practices, you can make a huge difference to how you sleep, both in terms of duration and the quality of sleep. Try incorporating these tips in your everyday pre-sleep routine:

Have a set routine!

Vata thrives off routines. A good routine ensures that your vata dosha remains balanced and keeps away fear, anxiety, and nightmares - all problems resulting from an imbalanced vata. The routine need not be complicated, but just a series of events that alert your body that your sleep time is close.

You can have a routine such as

• Brushing your teeth.

• Washing your face.

• Changing into your night clothes.

• Saying a quick prayer and expressing gratitude for your day.

Dietary Guidelines

Ayurveda recommends that your last meal of the day should be no less than 3 hours before you sleep. If you feel hungry before sleeping, try this milk recipe-

• Heat up a cup of milk.

• Add a pinch each of ground elaichi (cardamom), haldi (turmeric) and dalchini (cinnamon).

Sesame Oil Massage

Apply some sesame oil (til tel) to your feet and forehead to pacify the vata dosha. This will help your body unwind and get your mind in a relaxed and sleepy state. You can also rub some around your navel to improve your digestion.

If you’re still unable to find restful sleep or proper sleep is becoming a problem for you, consult a Jiva doctor. Dial 0129-4040404 from your mobile phone or click on ‘Speak to a Doctor’ under the CONNECT tab in the Jiva Health App.