Occasionally, you may have to actively unwind to truly rest up, and a bit of calming yoga could be your answer to getting a more restful sleep. This is especially true for tennis players and other athletes, as well as people with sedentary jobs.
Activities such as sports that include running and jumping can make the outer hips tight, and sitting for long periods of time can shorten and stiffen the front hip flexors. And both of these conditions can cause a restless night’s sleep.
Here are three recommended poses that yogi Tara Stiles says will relax your body and quiet your mind so you can easily drift off to sleep.
- Pidgeon: opens up tight hips and relieves tension in the chest and shoulders. It also stimulates the abdominal organs, which helps to regulate digestion.
- Ankle to knee: stretches the outer hips intensely, particularly the piriformis muscle (located underneath the gluteus maximus near the sciatic nerve), which is often the main culprit of sciatic pain.
- Lying spinal twist: a supported side opener, shoulder, and lower back stretch. It also stimulates the abdominal organs and helps to regulate digestion.
So put on your PJs, press play, and get ready to chill out…namaste.
