At Leesa, sleep is kind of our thing. Sleep is really important. You need sleep to function (just like you need food and water). No, seriously! Lack of sleep can lead to some serious issues. When you sleep, your body recharges, allowing your body to process the day’s information and reset all your chemical balances so you’re ready to wake up and tackle the next day.
With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, from driving carpool to slaying your work presentation to stopping by the grocery store on your way home, it can be tough to wind down when it’s time to go to bed. Trust us, after spending the day working on ways to help you sleep better—better mattresses, better bases, better pillows, better blankets—we have trouble turning off our brains to catch some zzz’s, too. (Ironic, we know.) Not to mention, once you’re asleep, getting up when the alarm goes off and kicking into gear can also be a challenge. But just like we’re always improving our products, we want to help you improve the way you sleep.
Let’s Get Zen
Don’t roll your eyes—hear us out. There are proven physical, mental and emotional benefits to meditation and yoga, from improving your focus and concentration to lowering your stress levels and blood pressure. Scientifically speaking, meditation releases endorphins in your brain (that’s a good thing) and stimulates activity in the part of your brain that controls emotions, specifically positive ones.
Keep in mind that meditation can be different for everyone and greatly depends on your personal preferences. Some people like to have an instructor guiding them through, using a soothing voice in a low tone, but some people find that creepy. Maybe soft music is more your style. With some experimentation, you can find the meditation technique that works best for you. You can also vary how long you meditate. If you want to meditate for an hour, great. If you only have 10 minutes, that’s fine, too.
Why not give it a try? Whether you suffer from insomnia or just have trouble falling to sleep sometimes, these meditation and yoga practices may help you get to sleep faster, sleep better and wake up feeling more rested.
Meditation to Help you Sleep Better
Meditation before bed can help you turn off your brain and fall to sleep faster, so you sleep better, longer. You can find guided meditations online, from simple meditations on Pinterest to websites that will talk you through it. There are also apps you can download that offer meditations, breathing exercises and white noise.
Vispassana mediation is a popular pre-bedtime meditation technique that helps quiet the thoughts floating around in your head. This practice encourages you to focus on something simple, like your hands, feet, or the sound of your breathing, helping you clear your mind and reduce stress.
You can also try incorporating some yoga into your bedtime routine. (You can even do these poses in bed!) Try laying on your back with your legs extended up the wall, sitting cross-legged and twisting to one side in a stretch or rocking back into a child’s pose. Hold each position as long as they’re comfortable and feel your heart rate slow as you start to relax.
Morning Meditation to Start Your Day
Just like meditating before bed helps you clear your mind for sleep, meditation in the morning can help prepare you for your day. While night time meditation is more soothing and tranquil, morning mediations are meant to help you concentrate and feel energized.
One of the major benefits of mediation is increased focus. Even just 10 minutes of meditation in the morning can help you have better concentration during the day and achieve your goals. Again, you can find some great guided morning meditations online that will get you started. Remember, there isn’t one right way to meditate, so find a routine that works for you and stick to it.
In the morning especially, yoga can help get you going. Whereas yoga you do before bed is very static and slow, morning poses are meant to get our blood flowing. (Although child’s pose is a great one for night or morning.) You can also try the cat and cow poses. On all fours, expand and contract your spine, holding each position for a few seconds. Another good morning pose is a spinal twist: lay on your back, pulling one leg across for a stretch. Once again, these poses can be done on the floor or in bed.
Of course, good sleep starts with the right mattress. The Leesa mattress is the perfect balance of comfort and support—it’ll have you saying “namaste in bed.” Our mattress is the perfect base for all things yoga, meditation and most importantly, better rest.
Ready to upgrade your bed and start sleeping better? Let Leesa help you get Zen.