Yoga for a Better Night’s Sleep
Score some seriously rejuvenating shut-eye tonight with these peaceful poses from our resident yoga guru, Kristin McGee. My husband may make fun of me for heading to bed before 10 p.m., but I’ve always been a big believer in the value of beauty sleep. Our bodies need to get a full seven to nine hours of quality rest to look (and feel!) great.
I’ve also found that what you do before you go to bed can make a huge difference in how well you snooze once you get there. I love my pre-bedtime ritual: this Mermaid sequence. It releases tension in my neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips—all of which can keep me from getting a deep rest. Plus, the side-to-side leaning is very soothing—almost like rocking a baby. After three to five rounds, I climb into bed and easily drift off. Sweet dreams indeed.
How to do it:
1. Sit back on your shins with your butt on your heels. Inhale as you slide your hips left and onto the floor next to your bent legs; put your right hand down for balance and raise your left arm straight up in the air.
2. Exhale, reaching your left arm overhead and to the right, stretching the left side of your waist.
3. Inhale, bending your left elbow and dropping your left hand behind your head so your left elbow is pointing straight up with your left hand between your shoulder blades, opening your chest to the ceiling.
4. Exhale, folding your chin toward your chest to stretch the entire back of your body, plus your head and neck.