Keep waking up at night? These three calming yoga poses will send you straight back to sleep

It’s common for people’s sleep routines to be upset during the holidays. But if you wake up in the night when you’ve got work the next day, it can really affect your performance and well-being.

Jesse Gabler, the founder of YOGI TIMES, shares three yoga poses that will soothe you back to sleep in no time.

Happy Baby Pose

This gentle, soothing exercise is also known as ‘Ananda Balasana.’ Firstly, lie on your back and bring your knees towards your chest. Then, grab the outside edges of your feet with your hands, opening your knees wider than your torso.

Gently rock from side to side, massaging your spine on the floor. This movement stretches the lower back and hips, which is where tension accumulates during the day. Breathing deeply in this playful pose for a few minutes can calm your mind, lighten your mood, and prepare your body for sleep.

Corpse Pose

The Corpse Pose (or ‘Savasana’) is often used to conclude a yoga session. Lie flat on your back with your legs spread slightly apart. Keep your arms relaxed at your sides with your palms facing up. Close your eyes and focus on deep, slow breathing.

This pose allows your body to surrender to gravity, releasing physical tension and clearing the mind of stress. Even a few minutes in Savasana can significantly relax your nervous system, making it easier to fall asleep.

Child’s Pose

The Child’s Pose (or ‘Balasana’) is another calming yoga posture. To perform this pose, kneel on the floor and sit back on your heels. Spread your knees as wide as your hips, then fold forward to lay your torso between your thighs. Extend your arms forward or alongside your body, with your forehead resting on the floor. This will gently stretch your back, hips, thighs, and ankles. It encourages a sense of safety and comfort, which will especially benefit those who wake up feeling anxious or unsettled. Jesse comments, “If you breathe deeply during this time, it can make the pose even more effective”.

These are just three of the possible yoga poses you can explore to help you improve your sleep. With the right ones in your toolkit, you can resume your sleep quicker than ever, helping you have a restful night.