Overcoming Sleep Disorders with Ayurveda

The Balanced Being Podcast with Gunny Sodhi

Today I want to discuss the importance of sleep through an Ayurvedic lens. Interestingly, Ayurveda considers sleep to be one of the “Three Pillars of Life,” accompanying proper digestion and appropriate sexual activity. Despite how important sleep is for our minds and bodies, many of us experience sleep disturbances or disorders, impeding our ability to get sufficient quality sleep.

According to Ayurveda, sleep disorders are primarily vata disorders, and worry and anxiety can easily disturb one’s sleep. Disturbed pitta can also play a role in causing sleep disturbances.

Ayurveda emphasizes a healthy lifestyle, which includes maintaining healthy routines for beginning one’s day, but creating and maintaining healthy bedtime routines is equally important.

If you’re someone that does not wake up feeling rested, it may be time to take an audit of your sleep and consider implementing some of the recommendations from Ayurveda that I will delve into in this episode.

In this episode I will share with you:

• Healthy bedtime routines for optimal sleep, including what you should be doing approximately one hour before your head hits the pillow
• How cortisol (stress hormone) impacts your sleep and soothing rituals that can promote relaxation
• The importance of maintaining a consistent bed and wake time, and the most ideal sleep schedule according to Ayurveda
• How the food you consume and when you consume it impacts your sleep, plus suggestions for foods that can promote quality sleep
• I will also share what I do before bedtime to relax and promote a good night’s sleep.
• I hope this information reaches you well and that you were able to take something from this episode to apply to your routine. It’s all about balance.

Check out the article I used as a reference: https://www.ayurvedacollege.com/blog/ayurveda-and-importance-sleep/

Wishing you the best of health,

Gunny Sodhi