Better Sleep Starts with Yoga: Move, Breathe, and Rest More Deeply
Ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2am, mind racing, body tense, sleep nowhere in sight?
You're not alone. Whether it's a stiff back from sitting all day, sore shoulders from stress, or a brain that won’t stop replaying conversations from earlier — sleep can become elusive, especially as we get older or when life is full on.
The good news? There’s a simple, proven way to reset your system and invite rest: yoga.
And no, it doesn’t mean bending yourself into impossible shapes or chanting for hours.
You don’t have to be flexible. You don’t need to know the names of the poses. And you definitely don’t need to be “good” at yoga.
If you can breathe, you can do yoga — especially the kind that helps you sleep better. These practices are simple, calming, and tailored to support your body as it is right now.
1. Yoga calms the nervous system
From fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest
Yoga helps move the body out of that “wired and alert” state and into deep rest mode. Breathwork, slow movement, and guided relaxation signal to your body that it’s safe to let go. Over time, it becomes easier to unwind and fall asleep naturally.
When the nervous system slows down, the whole body follows.
2. It helps release physical tension
A relaxed body sleeps more deeply
Tight hips, stiff neck, sore shoulders — these can all keep you awake. Evening yoga helps ease the tension that builds up during the day. When your body feels more open and comfortable, sleep tends to follow more easily.
3. Yoga quiets a busy mind
Breathe, move, and mentally reset
A regular yoga practice helps calm the mind and reduce anxiety. Breath and movement act like a moving meditation, creating space for stillness. Yoga becomes a reset button — a way to clear out the day before bed.
4. It builds better sleep habits
A simple bedtime ritual your body will thank you for
Even 10–15 minutes of breath-led movement in the evening can become a signal to your body that it’s time to rest — just like a bedtime routine for a child. Over time, your body starts to respond more easily to the cues.
5. Yoga nidra and breathwork go even deeper
Stillness, softness, and deep rest
Yoga nidra (a form of guided relaxation) and breath practices like alternate nostril breathing can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. These tools are especially powerful when stress or anxiety are keeping you awake.
From my teaching experience...
“I’ve seen so many people over 40 come to yoga thinking it’s not for them — and leave class saying they feel calmer, lighter, and more able to sleep well. Often, it’s the first time in years they’ve taken that kind of care for themselves. When we slow down and move with the breath, something shifts — not just in the body, but in the mind too.”
Final thoughts: sleep doesn’t have to feel out of reach
If sleep has been a struggle — falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up tired — yoga could be the missing piece.
In my classes, I offer practices that help you feel strong, balanced, and calm — with a focus on rest and relaxation. If you're curious to explore yoga for better sleep, you're warmly welcome to:
Join one of my weekly classes
Try a one-off session
Come along to a 90-minute Sleep Sanctuary workshop, where we focus specifically on yoga for sleep and the nervous system
Because sometimes, all it takes is a little breath, a little movement, and a little time for yourself.