Sleep | sound sleep brings longevity and improves digestion and enhance all glands | how to enhance Pineal and pituitary glands | Sleeping Tips

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise

Sleep is the natural condition of rest resulting from the pause of one’s bodily functions. Sleep manifests when the body, mind and nervous system are inactive; the postural muscles relaxed and consciousness suspended. The sense organs such as nose, ears, tongue and skin are standing apart from their respective objects of smell, sound, sight, taste and sensations and the mind being shifted from conscious to unconscious state. During deep sleep the unconscious mind becomes active and balances positive and negative prana energy in the body while the entire body repairs itself and the mind get rests and rejuvenated for the next day’s work.

There is a direct link between the mind and sensory organs that are maintained continuously throughout the day to allow human beings to perform a day’s work efficiently. So, when the mind is exhausted, the chain of link between the mind and senses is broken, and a human being succumbs to sleep (feels tired). Sound sleep brings happiness, nourishment, longevity, good vision, strength and improves digestion and enhance all glands.

A new-born baby sleeps continuously for more than three hours and wakes up for food and passes urine-stools then goes to sleep again. The cycles of sleep decreases as the child grows older before levelling at eight hours sleep. For an adult eight hours sleep is needed, while an elderly person sleeps for six hours.  This is the natural cycles of the sleep, highly beneficial and supported by nature which plays a major role in sustaining life; a healthy body and a healthy mind fully depend upon the sleep and any deviation in it, only causes major problems.

 Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland of the brain; and in fact, being responsible for regulating sleep cycles as it is to be produced after sunset or during night, as two hours before a person goes to sleep. So, for a sound sleep at night to be ensure adequate melatonin production in the body. Uttan asana, Hal asana, Sarvang asana, Padahast asana, Padam asana, Tad asana and shirsha asana: these asanas   can help the body to produce melatonin, the growth hormone and testosterone suitably.

According to Ayurveda, the sleep is entirely dependent on the kapha-pita-Vayu which are considered the three main constituents of the body. If any unbalancing is found among them, one will suffer an issue which will need to be diagnosed. Those who have more Kapha constitution easily fall asleep and they sleep for a long time; increased Kapha in the body manifests obstructions of the sensory pathways. While those with increased Vata constitution have smaller periods of time sleep and definitely disturbed sleep. Increased vata-pita disorders decreases the sleep cycles. Unexpected sleep is the cause of disturbances in the brain which can be cured by yoga. Disturbances among the kapha-pita-Vayu can be cured by adopting a few steps as follows.

         i.    In excessive sleep, one should to have early dinner and consume light food in smaller quantities.  

       ii.        Those suffering from lack of sleep should take a warm bath and rub the soles of feet with oil and soak feet in warm water in tub for ten minutes before going to bed and drink milk to induce sleep.

     iii.      To balancing the kapha-pita-Vayu in the body one should do vamna Kriya in the morning twice a week.

This is done in the morning as empty stomach, drink lukewarm water with little salts as much as you can until you feel full up and create a feeling of nausea. Bend forward as keep the legs one feet apart on the standing position and contract the stomach a little. Put your three fingers into your mouth up to the root of the tongue and rub and place the left hand on the stomach as support. It makes easier to empty the stomach.

Meditation

Meditation yields a significant experiences of calm and well-being within five minutes because the cycle of breath links you to the rhythms of creation within you and with the cosmic prana energy. Gradually, you will get a feel for the act of sitting in silent stillness; and would increase the time limits further easily enthusiastically. One simple breathing observation exercise that one must be do twice a day which is very beneficial for sound sleep.

§  Find a quiet place and sit down in comfortable asana, spine lengthening up.

§  Close your eyes and bring your attention to the flow of your breathing and be aware of the feeling of the air hot or cold against your nostrils above lips and below nostrils as you inhale.

Keep your attention on the flow of your breathing and following your breath and exhale slowly.

Ten minutes of keeping in deep meditation is equal to six hours of sound sleep and where oxygen consumption falls to its lower level in meditation proved good results. Breathe becomes composed and calm during meditation session. Meditation increases tissue mass in the area of the brain of controlling impulses and maintaining attention swiftly, increased thickness in the state of the brain is accountable for body awareness, enhanced focus and stress management and keeps the amygdala in balance. There is a direct relationships between the breath and senses. These five senses are hear, smell, taste, sight and touch.  Prana energy is entirely dependent upon the breathing frequency.  All of us are aware of the fact that breathe has to do with subtle senses changes as emotions change and during violent mood one becomes furious, while in the blissful stage breathe becomes calm, composed and slow that keep the mind composed.