Want to sleep like a baby? Yoga is the answer!

Up to a fifth of adults experience insomnia and almost 25% use sleep medication at some point in a year. There are many factors influencing how easy or not we fall asleep, how well we sleep, and if we wake up during the night. Many of them have to do with our mental health, stress levels and anxiety. Lack of sleep can result in tiredness, chronic fatigue, irritability, low mood, memory impairments, lower ability to learn and process information, and conflicts – which may then lead to yet more difficulties with getting enough sleep. It’s easy to get trapped in this vicious circle. And that’s where Yoga can achieve great results. 

And the same applies to our mental performance – sleep is crucial for your brain to process and sort information and experiences, and to recharge its cognitive abilities. Research shows that sleeping only 4 hours a night has serious negative impacts on your reasoning, verbal skills, and overall cognition comparable to aging your brain by 8 years. The good news is, with getting 7-8 hours of sleep, you can bounce back very quickly – physically and mentally!

If you think you don’t need as much sleep as others, consider this – men who sleep less than 6 hours a night have smaller testicles than men who get 7-8 hours of sleep, and lower testosterone levels. In women, natural hormone fluctuations result in more sleep disturbances which is why women generally have a higher need for sleep – and if they don’t get it, it leads not just to physical but also mental fatigue. Too little sleep and disturbed sleep also make you (regardless of gender) more hungry and prone to overeating – your body isn’t rested and recovered enough and it asks for more energy. And the list could go on – we simply need our sleep, ideally 7-8 hours each night.

Stress reduction

Even in highly stressful professions, Yoga can achieve great results. When Border Security Force personnel received just a few days of Yoga training, their anxiety levels decreased yet their vigilance increased. This was accompanied by improved quality of sleep. Yes, Yoga is that powerful!

Yoga practice helps to decrease your stress levels in a number of ways – the physical practice brings more oxygen into your tissues and stimulates the ‘happy hormones’ (endorphins and serotonin) release, it makes you breathe deeper and slower, and it also teaches you to be more mindful. Research shows that practicing mindfulness changes how your brain responds to stress – you have greater emotion control, are less reactive to stress triggers and recover from tense situations faster. 

Yoga practice also includes various breathing techniques which significantly reduce your stress hormones and help you unwind. They won’t make you stress-free but can make a world of difference to your sleepy time.

Sleep-easy Yoga

Research on Yoga and sleep brings encouraging results – as one study showed, three Yoga practices a week can markedly improve the quality of your sleep as well as your mental wellbeing. But what if you don’t have time for three yoga sessions weekly? Worry not! Even two Yoga practices per week can help a great deal. As a study of hospital nurses showed, having regular, twice a week Yoga practice reduces stress and improves sleep quality so you wake up more rested.

If you suffer from chronic insomnia and think you need something stronger than Yoga to make you sleep – think again! Yet more research data suggest that regular Yoga practice can not only enhance the quality of your sleep but also makes you fall asleep faster. These results are supported by a large study which revealed that Yoga makes you feel better during the day, and sleep better and longer at night. Essentially, Yoga is a one-stop sleep aid. 

It doesn’t matter when you do your Yoga practice, you will reap the sleep benefits regardless. However, if you do Yoga right before going to bed, avoid fast-paced and challenging sequences as they are too energising – go for slower, more relaxing practice instead.

Pre-sleep routine

Whilst Yoga helps in general, you may want to introduce a little pre-sleep routine if you have trouble falling asleep. It may be simple – for example a seated forward fold for a couple of minutes, breathing deeply, followed by alternate nostril breathing for another few minutes. 

Any forward fold position helps to calm the mind and pacify anxiety – you may also want to try Child’s pose, wide legged forward fold, or sitting cross-legged and folding forward. These positions followed by a balancing breathing technique stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system – that’s the part responsible for rest and relaxation. It’s the best preparation for sleep and will only take a few minutes of your time.

When we close our eyes and want to sleep, the mind is often very active, processes events of the day, worries or plans ahead. What works really well for many of us is a quick check-in when you’re in bed and ready to sleep. 

By checking-in with your body, your brain automatically switches off some of its hyperactivity and it can help you fall asleep.

Sleep like a pro

Who wouldn’t want to wake up well-rested, recovered and energised? Yoga practice can be a great help in this aspect, along with bringing more mindfulness into your life. If you’d like to try a slow-paced stress-relief Yoga, we have just the thing for you – all you need is 20 minutes. 

Whenever you can’t fall asleep, try one of the calming breathing techniques or curl up into Child’s position and do the physical check-in. It may seem like a small thing but it helps to quieten the mind and break its fretting.

Obviously where and how you sleep also has a big impact on your shut-eye time so you may need to make some adjustments there as well – a new mattress, different sleeping position, smaller pillow, opened window or earplugs. The tiniest changes sometimes make the biggest difference!

We are creatures of habit, whether we like to admit it or not. When it comes to sleep, creating healthy habits, including regular Yoga practice, might just be the key to sleeping like a baby.

Why Happiness is Contagious.

In 1948, scientists and doctors began the most comprehensive study on heart disease ever conducted. Over 60 years later, the Framingham Heart Study still continues. Because the study involves so many people and spans such a long time period, there are many different aspects that scientists continue to study. One of their key findings relates to the happiness theory.

Scientists found that we experience happiness through social connections.  Therefore, the clusters of people around you strongly influence how you feel. In fact, a positive change in one person affects everyone in their friend cluster. Your probability for increased happiness improves 15% if your most immediate friend is happy, 10% if a friend of your friend is happy, and so on until four degrees of separation.

They have discovered and quantified what yogis have known for thousands of years: happiness is contagious.  

Many practice yoga or go for a run because they feel good after. Physical activity releases endorphins into your body, which make you feel good. By feeling better and being happy, you influence others to feel better, too.  What you do to manage your thoughts to create happy cells impacts those around you. In this way, we are creating our world thought by thought. We can influence more people than we ever realized, simply by being happy.

The Yoga Sutras spell out that if we are not balanced mentally, physically, or emotionally, then we are not living our true, naturally happy potential. To remedy this, we are taught to practice Pratipaksha Bhavana (Chapter 2.33) to eliminate negative thoughts by denying them our attention. Instead of wasting energy by engaging or resisting our negative thoughts, we replace them with positive ones. Over time this process of substitution sublimates negative thinking. Engage happy thoughts and try this breath meditation when you need to reframe your outlook.

Inhale: I welcome happiness
Exhale: I am grateful
Inhale:  I welcome inspiration
Exhale:  I am grateful
Inhale:  I welcome love
Exhale:  I am grateful
Inhale: I welcome hope
Exhale: I am grateful

In a world where almost anything can go viral, why not inspire happiness? Knowing that Happiness is contagious means that happiness benefits more than just you: those around you reap the benefits as well. Let’s join together in a happiness movement, where joy, happiness, and peace spread to everyone around us!

Love yourself, love your day, love your life!

4 Easy Steps to Help You Get Back Into Your Yoga Routine

Some things are easier said than done, especially if your fitness routine falls by the wayside. If you haven’t worked out for a while, here are some useful tips and tricks to help you get back on track.

1) Start with Visualisation.

Sometimes the first step can be the hardest. This is why the power of visualisation can be the key in the first step to taking up a consistent workout routine again. Having recently undergone a minor surgery myself, I can only speak from experience when I say that visualising yourself doing what you’d like to do is key before starting any kind of routine. Your mind is a powerful tool and can aid in preparing your body for any upcoming activity. Ideally, it would be highly recommended to practise meditation, as it in fact helps your mind to become focused on any tasks ahead of you. 

2) Simply Breathe.

Another possibility to ease yourself back into your workout routine would be simple breathing techniques. After my surgery I was very restricted in my physical capabilities and I was not allowed to move about a lot. However, I still had my breath. And guess what…lungs need to be exercised too! One of my go-to breathing techniques in this case is Nadi Shoda, also known as alternate nostril breathing. What may sound simple is actually quite challenging: While holding one of your nostrils closed, you breathe in through the open one. Once you take a deep breath, you close both of your nostrils for a brief moment before you open the nostril that was previously closed and then you repeat this for at least ten times. Trust me, this will not only challenge your breathing muscles but also strengthen your concentration! 

3) Walk, Forrest, walk!

If you haven’t noticed already, I believe in small but consistent steps. So if you feel like you are totally unfit and need to take it easy or need to recover slowly like me, I would strongly encourage you to start going for little walks. Whether you measure those with a step counter or by minutes, the important thing is not to overdo it. Aim to walk a little further everyday and you will see that you will build up some strength. Promise! 

4) Work it!

 Last but not least, the only way to build up a workout routine again is by exercise itself. However, you should not overwork yourself as pain and sore muscles on the next day usually discourage people from continuing to exercise again. And if you have just undergone surgery like me, it is best to start exercising those muscle groups which you can work and move fully. 

Overall, the above steps do not need to be followed strictly and can be combined in whichever way you want to. Just remember: Be kind to yourself and take it easy.

Disconnect to reconnect - Our guide to a digital detox

Are you struggling to control your digital habits? Do you find yourself endlessly scrolling, only to realise hours later that time has been wasted? Take back control and create a more mindful approach to integrating technology in your everyday life. In this article we will discuss the effects of technology on your life and ways to improve your relationship with it.

How Technology Impacts Our Lives

The day I realised I relied too much on technology was when my phone died and I was in the middle of Melbourne. With no Google Maps and no way to call anyone I simply stopped, confused.  

 “Ok think, what do people do without Google maps?”

It was then I realised how aimlessly I moved around in this huge city with no real idea where I was going just absently staring at a screen waiting for my next instruction. Lost, anxious and helpless, all because my phone was dead.  How did I get to this point where a piece of technology was my key to survival? And not just my survival but also my main source of entertainment. The only reason my phone was dead was because I had spent the last  hour watching Netflix on the train, and before that I was listening to music in the shower, and before that I was scrolling social media while I ate my dinner. I began moving through my day step-by-step and couldn't find a time that hadn’t revolved around my phone or some sort of device. It was then I knew I had a problem.

The Benefits Of Technology

Before we get started I do want to say I am not anti-technology. I agree that technology has created new worlds of opportunity for our generation and now we are able to do stuff that would have seemed impossible only 30 years ago. With new technology we are able to hear sounds which have previously escaped human ears, see loved ones who live on the other side of the world, send people up into space and even create prosthetic limbs with 3-D printers. There are so many ways in which technology is advancing humankind.

The Effects Of Technology On Our Health

But what I do not love about the world we live in today is the way we unconsciously use technology.  We live in a time where we have the world at our fingertips, you can find the answer to any question in a matter of seconds with just a few clicks. Yet, I think it’s safe to say the average person is not using technology to expand their knowledge but rather technology today is used mainly as our greatest pastime. And don’t we pass the time. Hours and hours spent just scrolling, not really paying attention. I cannot tell you how many rabbit holes I have fallen down. It would start by watching a video of a cute old grandma and a baby dancing together, then that video would roll onto the next and then the next, then somehow I would end up on a clip of a dog in a bubblebath - 1 whole hour of my life I will never get back. And many of us are guilty of this, the mindless habitual mooching around on our phones. 

Habitual scrolling is a real problem for some people; a 2019 study showed that on average US teens were spending just under 7.5 hours a day on entertainment through digital media[1]. Another study which claimed some adults can even peak at 11+ hours a day. Needless to say, this amount of screentime is very detrimental to our wellbeing. Studies show that more than 2 hours of screen time a day can have a negative impact on our sleep, our bodies and our mind. But it's not surprising that many of us have fallen into this trap. You see, our brains are directly impacted by this constant sensory overload all coming from our devices. They have even found that using technology for recreational use such as gaming or social media can result in our brain producing dopamine which is a chemical reaction that relates to pleasure or enjoyment and is often associated with addiction.

 So this is the problem, but what is the solution? I propose a digital detox. 

What Is A Digital Detox?

You might be wondering: “What exactly is a digital detox?”, “How can I possibly go on a detox from technology?”, “I have to work so I need my laptop, my phone is my alarm, I get google alerts to remember appointments, it is not practical for me to give up technology, and so on and so on”. 

But the digital detox outlined below is not the complete abstinence from technology but rather a reduction in the amount of unnecessary time spent on our screens, and instead focus on our real-life social and physical interactions; a way to get off the screens and into the present. By not using technology as a habitual distraction we can bring mindfulness into everyday activities. Follow these easy steps below and you will soon find your mind calmer, your sleep longer and your awareness heightened.  

7 Ways To Start Your Digital Detox Today

The most important part of any detox is establishing a time frame and sticking to it. If it is your first time trying this detox you can always start small. Even if it's one hour, you can always work up longer and longer each time. So first set yourself a goal and let's get to it.

1. Put your phone on airplane or silent mode to turn off notifications.

This brings back your control over your device - it does not command your attention rather you look when you're ready. Allowing you to continue doing other activities without being constantly distracted, thus allowing you to get lost in your other non-digital projects.

2. Have technology-free hours or activities.

Have a designated ‘no technology time’. For many of us the first thing we do when we open our eyes in the morning is check our phone.  This starts our bad habits from the minute we wake up and will likely continue throughout the day. So instead, try waking up and having a whole hour to establish a set routine before you even think about checking in with the digital world. Also it is good to have certain activities such as cooking or reading where you completely detach from your devices and put all of your attention into what is in front of you to reconnect to the present moment.

3. No screens just before bed.

This may be the hardest as many of us love scrolling or watching a movie before we drift off to sleep, but by turning off you would be giving yourself the greatest gift - a good night's sleep.  Studies show the detrimental effects the blue lights and stimulations from screens have on our sleep. It messes with our natural day and night rhythm through artificial simulation of daylight. By letting go of this unnecessary use before bed you will find your body more relaxed, falling asleep will be easier and you will reconnect with your natural body clock.

4. Delete unnecessary apps from your phone.

This action step is actually very liberating. It's so tempting when you have apps on your homescreen so removing the temptation will really make things easier. It doesn't mean you have to delete your accounts but rather make it harder for you to access them. Either access through a browser where you have to log in each time or put the app in a folder in a folder in a folder, thus when you go to open it you have an opportunity to think with each click if it's worth your time.

5. Put a timer on when on certain devices or apps.

If you don’t want to completely remove yourself from the digital world a trick to stop you getting lost in them is setting timers. Enjoy your time while it lasts and when the buzzer goes you let go of the attachment and move on to your next activity. On iPhones you can set a limit per app and after the set amount of time you will get a reminder to either close the app or extend your screen time. You decide how much energy you want to give a certain device or app and set the time appropriately. This will also bring a conscious element into your technology use, you will learn to use your time wisely.

6. Have mindful alternatives activities ready.

The key to success in this detox is having alternative activities to fill the time.  Most of us only use our devices either out of habit or out of boredom so by having set tasks or activities ready allows us to find our pleasure and entertainment elsewhere. Replacing technology with mindful practices such as reading, playing an instrument or meditating is an amazing way to transform a spare hour in the day into something wholesome and beneficial for our minds.

7. Ask for support from family or friends.

It's a good idea to have a friend or a family member as an accountability buddy who is ready to undertake this challenge together. Also ironically there are apps that exist to help you reduce screen time and technology use, this can be super helpful as you will be able to see your improvements as you go along.You do not have to do this alone, it's always easier to do something challenging with support.

Why juicing is the perfect summer cleanse

Summer is a time for fun, spending time with friends and family and enjoying the sunshine. There is something truly magical about this time of year that makes us want to lighten up (literally and metaphorically) and embrace the organic supermarket fruit and vegetables section. Our appetites wane slightly, we have the urge to exercise more, and our bodies intuitively want to shake off excess weight. In a nutshell, it's the ideal time to embrace nutrient-packed juices or, better still, consult with a trusted medical professional about embarking on a juice cleanse regimen.

It's widely known that many of us need to up our game when it comes to fruit and vegetable intake. Even if you are eating the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables how many of those are raw, meaning you’re getting the most nutrient-rich bang for your buck?

Freshly made cold pressed juices are the simplest solution. Even if you already follow a plant-based diet, you’ll quickly feel the benefits of supercharging your consumption of enzymes, phytonutrients and living water into your body this way. Recent studies have found that a three-day organic juice cleanse improved the healthy balance of gastrointestinal microflora. That leads to boosted immunity, improved digestion, and reduction of harmful free radicals in the body. Study participants also reported feeling significant boost in energy up to two weeks later and an average weight loss of two kilograms. In short, juicing supercharges your body and helps set you on a healthy path for the warmer months.

So, what should we be juicing?

Summer is the perfect season to cleanse, the fruit and vegetables that traditionally appear in summer are perfect for juicing. Plant-based foods that are at their peak in the summer provide us the best vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, living waters, sun light, and energy we need for our health coming out of winter, says Gary Dowse, aka The Juice Chef. 

Summer is the season of new growth, he says, when we start to see green again on trees and in our gardens after the barren chill of winter. And in that vein, it’s also the ideal time to embrace green juices, which contain ingredients seasonal to summer and packing the energy punch we all need this time of year. “Think sprouts, leafy greens, and herbs (like parsley and basil) as well as any green vegetables that grow above the ground, like celery, cucumber and zucchini,” Gary says. “All these green foods provide us with minerals like sodium and potassium to help us move our bodies more, and an important green nutrient known as chlorophyll helps us get our blood pumping.”

The magic of chorophyll

Chlorophyll is a powerful plant-based nutrient, often referred to as a plant’s blood, that helps them absorb energy from sunlight and is what gives them their green colour. When consumed, it is a powerful anti-inflammatory, helps the body detoxify, fights oxidative stress, protects the liver, boosts the immune system, boosts energy levels, and may even have anti-ageing properties.

Eating and juicing green herbs and vegetables is one of the best ways to get more chlorophyll into your diet. A cold press juicer is the best machine to extract the maximum amount of green juice and allows you to store the juice in the fridge for up to three days without loss of nutrients.

While there are plenty of ‘liquid chlorophyll’ supplements available in health food stores, and even supermarkets, they don’t actually contain chlorophyll. Rather, they feature a compound called chlorophyllin, a semi-synthetic mixture of sodium copper salts isolated from chlorophyll. The bottom line: always opt for fresh over supplements. “You’ll soon see how it outperforms the man-made versions,” agrees Gary. Foods with the highest chlorophyll content ideal for juicing in summer include broccoli, brussel sprouts, celery, coriander, parsley, spinach, silver beet, and the hero of the chlorophyll world thanks to its high concentration, wheatgrass.

What about the other colours in the rainbow?

Gentle warming foods like fennel and cabbage are also good for summer as they help you make the transition from the colder months into the warmer season, says Gary. Both are high in folate, potassium, and vitamin C, which are great for heart health and our immune systems.

We have more warmth in the air in summer, we should start to introduce the orange and deep red colour foods like rockmelon, carrot, beetroot, and cherries to our juices, says Gary, as they will take your energy up another notch. Red and orange vegetables are high in antioxidants, including vitamins A and C, great for anti-inflammation and anti-ageing.

Sound great? We agree. See you in the supermarket organics section!

Morning Rituals for a happy heart and soul

How we start our day reflects the energy that we will be inviting in for the whole rest of our day ahead. Perhaps you can remember a time when you have woken up, checked your phone or emails straight away and became instantly stressed or agitated which then carried through for the whole rest of the day with many things going wrong. Whereas I’m sure you can remember a time where you woke up and had a beautiful and nourishing morning which then went on to lead you to having a beautiful and fulfilling day ahead. So as you can imagine, it is so important to begin our day with morning rituals which invite in the energy of calm, gratitude and flow in order to live each day in alignment with the expression of our Highest Self.

Things to avoid in your morning routine:

• Checking your phone/social media/emails

• Drinking stimulating substances (coffee/energy drinks)

• Eating sugary and processed foods

• Watching/consuming the news or other forms of media

• Leaving your bed unmade & leaving mess to deal with later

Morning Ritual Ideas:

Here are some morning ritual ideas which will help to nourish your heart and soul and allow your day to start off from a place of softness and alignment, which can be energetically carried through the rest of your day. You may not have time or even want to do everything on this list, but we can suggest choosing the ones that resonate with you best and then incorporating the into your daily morning routine.

1. Tongue Scraping

Tongue scraping is an ancient ayurvedic technique that has been used for thousands of years as a way to remove any toxins that have accumulated on the surface of your tongue. Overnight as you sleep, the body is working hard to remove these toxins which are then collected as a white coating over your tongue. In ayurveda they believe that it is very important to scrape away this toxic layer before you consume any liquids, so that you are not allowing the toxins to reenter into your system. You can do this through a method called ‘tongue scraping’, which is using a metal tongue scraper (or a teaspoon works just as well), to remove this coating. You can scrape your tongue and then wash away the white residue, and continue this process around 5-10 times until this layer has removed. 

There are a number of scientifically proven benefits associated with this practice, such as:

• Improves sense of taste

• Enhances oral hygiene

• Removes bacteria

• Reduces bad breath

• Improves overall health

• Prevents cavities

2. Warm Lemon Water

After you have removed any toxins from the mouth through the tongue scraping, now is the time to cleanse your digestive system for the day ahead with a warm and nourishing glass of lemon water. Drinking warm lemon water every morning helps the body to maintain its natural pH balance and helps to boost the immune system through its rich source of vitamin C. Other beautiful benefits include:

• Helps to fight infections with its powerful antibacterial properties

• Maintains digestive health

• Flushes toxins out of the liver

• Reduces joint and muscle pain

• Increases the metabolic rate

3. Gratitude Journaling

A bit of a fun way that you can incorporate gratitude into your daily life is to have a gratitude jar or box. You can find an empty jar or box and decorate it as you desire so that it looks pleasing to you. Once you have your gratitude container, the idea of this is to write down a gratitude statement on a piece of paper and add a new statement into the jar or box everyday. Then by the end of the week or the end of the month you can take out all of the statements and read out everything that you have been grateful for over that period. 

There has been an incredible amount of research on the healing benefits of regular gratitude practice. This can often take place in the form of gratitude journaling, where you can start your day with writing down three things you’re grateful for and why. When you allow yourself to tune into the resonance of gratitude, you will recognise more things that you are grateful for throughout your day. This attitude of gratitude shifts you away from a mentality of lack and fear, and into the vibration of love and appreciation.

4. Dream Journaling

Writing down your dreams when you wake up, is a beautiful way to boost your levels of creativity, and connect more to the messages of your unconscious mind. Writing down your dreams can also be a very therapeutic process, which can help you to process the experiences and emotions which you’ve had in your waking life which is often played out in the dream space. Research has also indicated that dream journaling helps to improve memory recall and strengthen the immune system.

5. Digital Detox

A digital detox is a complete break from technology and all media outlets. This includes checking your phone, social media, watching the news etc. Typically a digital detox may be for a prolonged period of time. However we understand that with the world that we live in, this usually isn’t possible. However it is definitely possible and attainable to have a digital detox every morning. This means waking up and not checking your phone or emails straight away. It would look something like waking up, practising a few of your nourishing morning rituals, having breakfast, having your shower and getting ready for your day. Only when you are ready and you have done everything you needed to and have established the right energy for the day, then you can consciously check your phone or emails when needs be. We would also very much recommend taking a digital detox before bedtime too so you can ease yourself into sleep without your stress response being triggered by the notifications and the blue light. 

If you want to find out more about starting a digital detox, check out our previous blog post: https://www.heartandsoulretreats.com.au/blog/digital-detox

6. Pranayama

Connecting to the power of your breath is a beautiful way to start the day, as it helps to connect you to your prana (your lifeforce energy), which can leave you feeling grounded throughout the rest of your day. Pranayama in sanskrit means to control your life force energy, which can be done through a variety of different breathing techniques which the ancient yogis have practised for thousands of years. There a number of amazing benefits associated with practising pranayama, such as:

• Decreased levels of stress

• Improved quality of sleep

• Increased levels of mindfulness

• Reduced high blood pressure

• Enhanced cognitive performance

• Improved lung capacity

• Regulates subtle energy in the body

• Helps to clear away stagnant energy and blockages

7. Yoga

A regular morning practice of yoga can help you to start your day with a positive flow of momentum. A yoga practice can help you to feel centered, calm and grounded so that you can move throughout your day within a more balanced state of mind. You are also allowing an increased level of prana (lifeforce energy) to flow within your energy field, which will help you to feel more connected to the wisdom of your Higher Self. Which will help you to respond instead of reacting to stressful situations that you may face throughout your day. Other wonderful benefits of a regular morning yoga practice includes:

• Helps to regulate your sleep rhythm and balance your hormones

• A great caffeine alternative to provide energy throughout the day

• Prevents injury and an achy body throughout the day

• A more dynamic practice will help to boost your metabolic rate

• Helps to build a healthy and consistent routine

We hope you have enjoyed these morning ritual ideas for a happy heart and soul. Let us know in the comments which rituals resonate with you best.