“Enhancing Sleep Cycles: The Vital Role of Natural Healing for the Body

Living in today’s highly competitive world conditions us to strive for success, often at the expense of our well-being. In the relentless pursuit of societal expectations, we work tirelessly without respite, hoping for eventual rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, this elusive reprieve never materializes, resulting in the loss of everything – money, health, and life. In the relentless cycle of toil and struggle, the significance of natural healing through an improved sleeping cycle is often overlooked.

The words of Spiritual Guru Dalai Lama encapsulate this predicament:

“Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

This article aims to shed light on the overlooked natural healing benefits of proper sleep, a vital component often excluded from our lives amid the technological onslaught. While many focus on workout routines and supplements for a perfect body, the importance of enhancing the sleeping cycle is frequently underestimated. Sleep, in its natural essence, plays a crucial role in replenishing the body’s energy supplies depleted by the day’s activities, contributing to overall natural healing.

Healthy sleep is divided into four-stage cycles. Stages 1, 2, and 3 comes under NREM sleep. The first two stages, i.e, 1 and 2 are the initial stages of the NREM sleep where we become increasingly unplugged from the world until we reach the deep sleep that happens in stage 3.

The fourth and final stage is named for the rapid eye movement (REM) which is also known as the dreaming stage. During this stage heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, breathing becomes faster and irregular.

Generally, a person experiences three to five REM periods throughout sleep time with the longest REM period right before awakening for the day.

Every individual has different needs and preferences and the duration of sleep varies across the lifespan and from person to person.  Factors such as physical size, muscle mass, brain size, and current level of physical fitness may influence human sleep patterns.

According to the National Sleep Foundations’ recommendations:

• Older adults (65+) require 7–8 hours of proper sleep in order to remain healthy.
• Adults aged 18–64 years should get a sound sleep of 7–9 hours and teenagers aged 14–17 years require 8–10 hours of proper sleep.
• School children (6–13 years) require 9–11 hours of sleep whereas preschoolers (3–5 years) need 10–13 hours of proper sleep.
• Toddlers (1–2 years) should get 11–14 hours of sleep and infants (4–11 months) should sleep for at least 12–15 hours.
• The sleep patterns differ for the newborns and they require 14–17 hours of undisturbed sleep.

The importance of sleep pattern in healing body

A sound sleep repairs brain cells– A sound sleep is responsible for boosting the reproduction of cells that forms myelin which is an integral part of nerve conduction.

It keeps your heart safe-Getting a night of proper sleep induces deep relaxation and will help the heart to function at optimum levels.

Sleep nourishes the skin- Studies show that sleep naturally helps in the production of new collagen, which makes the skin look bright, wrinkle-free and prevents it from sagging.

A sound sleep promotes hormone regulation– During sleep, our body produces a sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin. Seven to eight hours of adequate sleep helps to regulate insulin products.

Sleep affects body weight- Individuals with short sleep duration tend to weigh significantly more than those who get adequate sleep.

Sleep also improves concentration, productivity, and functions of the immune system. Having a sound sleep at night, also helps you to keep stress and depression at bay. Therefore, it is important to have a sound sleep cycle and there are many ways that help in improving the sleeping cycle naturally. 

Yoga and Sleep

If you are having a problem sleeping you can try these yoga asanas to sleep better. 

Balasana or Child Pose

It is one of the simple yet effective asanas that help calm the nervous system and aids you in sleeping peacefully.

Hastapadasana or Standing forward bend

It stretches the back muscles, makes the spine supple and invigorates the nervous system by increasing blood supply.

Marjariasana or Cat stretch

It makes the spine flexible, massages the digestive organs and improves digestion, thus helping you sleep well.

Baddhakonasana or Butterfly pose

It can help remove fatigue from long hours of standing or walking and is a good stretch for inner thighs, groin, and knees.

Viparita Karani or Legs-up-the-wall pose

It helps to relieve tired legs and feet and helps increase blood supply to the brain, thereby calming the mind and relieving it of a mild headache.

All these asanas help in improving the sleeping cycle, which in turn will improve the overall health of your body.

Sleeping does play a vital role in the overall well-being of the body. Therefore, having a sound sleep for 7-8 hours will make each day a productive one. Take the help of the above-mentioned yoga asanas that may help in improving the sleep cycle. Getting enough rest is integral for your body as it enables the body to repair or naturally heal itself and be fit and ready for another day.

For those encountering persistent challenges despite the aforementioned efforts, it is advisable to schedule a preventive healthcare consultation session. This is where Aanya Wellness steps in, offering a convenient platform to effortlessly book a consultation session. Here, you can receive personalized and natural healing solutions for your health concerns.