MEDITATION INFORMATION ARTICLES

Exercises in Dealing with Insomnia

When we meditate, we escape from worrying by focusing our senses on the object of Meditation. We do not think anymore, but we observe and that is an excellent solution when at night you are tossing and turning and you cannot fall asleep. Meditating can also help you by teaching you to make good use of the time that you normally spend tossing and turning in your bed. Meditating brings about a deep feeling of rest and relaxation which not only helps you to fall asleep fast but also to wake up very refreshed the next morning. Meditating is a good remedy for insomnia, but you should not do it too long. Meditating for longer than 15 minutes in a sitting position often results in a very alert, awake, relaxed sort of mental condition. Be aware of this: before you know it, you are wide awake and cannot fall asleep anymore. In short: it is good to meditate for a short period of time before going to bed. When you meditate regularly, you will notice that you fall asleep more easily, that your sleep is deeper, and that you need less sleep.

Exercises that we recommend are all Concentration Meditations that you do in an upright position. Go to Concentration Meditations to read more about Mantra Meditations, Breathing Meditations, and Object Meditations and follow the starting procedure as explained by us or come to one of our courses to gain experience.

Other suitable Meditations when you are tossing in your bed or just before going to sleep are the Bodyscan Meditation and the Steer your breath Meditation. Both exercises should be done lying in your bed with closed eyes. The bodyscan is a little easier for beginners. When you start to feel sleepy during the exercise, that is fine: just allow yourself to fall asleep. Do try to focus well on the object of Meditation: otherwise your mind will not begin to rest.

A very nice and effective exercise from Yoga that helps you to fall asleep is the Alternating Nostril Breathing Technique that we have described in our article The Ideal Warming-Up for Meditating. Instead of using this exercise as a warming up, you can use it to fall asleep. In order to fall asleep fast, you should not sit up straight, but lie on your right side and breathe in through your left nostril and breathe out through your right nostril. You should close your nostrils alternately with your thumb and index finger. This is an excellent trick that yogis have used for thousands of years to fall asleep fast. Good luck!

Exercises in Dealing with Insomnia

	Concentration Techniques It is very important to be focused when you Meditate. A focused mind can help us stay away from other thoughts helping us have a more peaceful Meditation. Learn how Concentration Techniques can help you in dealing with Insomnia.
	Bodyscan Meditation In this kind of Meditation, our body is our main object. Bodyscan Meditatio is derived from Yoga. This is an excellent exercise to relax our body. It also helps reduce stress and relieve tension in our muscles. You can find some exercises here to help you fight Insomnia.
	Steer your Breath Meditation This is a little more difficult than the bodyscan meditation. It is an excellent exercise for both beginners and advanced students. The difference is that in this meditation, our breathing is the object of our meditation. Breathe your way out of Insomnia by reading this article.
	Alternating Nostrils Breathing Meditation You will fall asleep fast if you do this exercise by lying on your right side. Some people experience Insomnia because they have an inconsistent sleeping pattern. This exercise can help you easily relax making you fall asleep fast. Read more to find out how.