Ever wondered why those hours of slumber are called “beauty sleep”?

When we get a good night’s rest our internal organs are cleansed, detoxified and refreshed.

As a result, our skin reflects our internal health with a luminous glow. In fact,the skin is the last organ to receive nutrients and when the skin is radiant and glowing that’s a clear indication that your internal organs are in good shape!

According to Ayurveda, the time between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. is when the liver gets to work and begins its detoxification cycle to prepare the body for the next day. This is a critical function to maintain health and equilibrium. If these toxins are not released from the body by the morning, then they will remain in the system and circulate.

Not sleeping well has a lot of repercussions on our daily life as well: it makes us groggy, forgetful and crabby. It affects our productivity at work. And our capacity to love at home.

But worst of all, it’s exhausting to be in a state of sleep deprivation.

Here are some ways to wind down every night and ensure deep, blissful sleep:

1. Pick foods that support sleep.

Eating very heavy foods or eating too close to bedtime are major culprits in disrupting sleep. Avoid eating a minimum of three hours before bedtime and see the difference in the quality of sleep. Also add foods with tryptophan in your diet to sleep better. Some examples are brown rice, lentils, beets, turkey and almonds

2. Sip relaxing herbal tea.

Certain herbals teas such as chamomile, peppermint and sage enter our nervous system and relax us from the inside out, helping us drift into sleep more easily.

3. Turn off those electronics.

Yes we love our TVs, smart-phones and laptops, but bright lights signal the brain to stay stimulated and alert. Create a deadline to turn these off every night, preferably an hour before bedtime. Your eyes will thank you for it!

4. Take a warm bath or shower.

Taking a shower at the end of the day allows us to literally wash away the day’s worries as well as clean out all negative, draining elements. End your bath with a gentle oil massage and you will find yourself slipping into blissful sleep more easily.

5. Create a soothing ambiance.

Replace the day’s chaos and chatter with some soft, calming rituals. Play relaxing music, dim the lights in your room, make it dark, cool and comfortable. Preparing for your night should be as important as preparing for your day.

6. Explore alternative healing.

Alternative healing techniques are often very powerful ways to bring balance, harmony and as a result, good sleep in our day. Reflexology, acupuncture and cranio release techniques (also called “cranio sacral biodynamic healing”) are some options to explore.

Puja is a holistic health coach and has received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, New York. She offers powerful health and wellness programs for young women, in person or on the phone, empowering them through healthier food and lifestyle choices. Puja has been practicing and teaching meditations for over seven years. She is also a Reiki master and avid Yogi. She believes all inner growth starts with a love affair with oneself! Follow her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/innerscientist or check out her website http://www.innerscientist.com

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Editor: Elysha Anderson

 

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