Ayurveda And Yoga For Insomnia

August 3, 20214 min readAyushya Arogya

Trouble falling or staying asleep can be short-term, lasting a few days to a few weeks. For some it becomes chronic, lasting more than a month.

It is usually caused by psychological conditions such as stress, anxiety and trauma, or by hormonal disturbances. Treatment involves therapies and lifestyle changes. If you have a hard time getting to sleep at night, bringing yoga into your life can help — especially when the insomnia is stress-related.

What causes insomnia

Short-term causes often come from disruptions to the circadian rhythm, the biological clock of the sleep-wake cycle:

• Shift work — irregular changes in work timings.
• Environmental noise.
• Jet lag — travelling across time zones can disturb the sleep pattern for a day or two.
• Moving to, and sleeping at, high altitudes.

Psychological causes include depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders and anxiety disorders; medical conditions involving chronic pain; and hormone shifts during menstruation or menopause. Other factors may include a partner’s snoring, an overactive mind, and pregnancy.

Insomnia in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, insomnia is known as Anidra. From the Ayurvedic perspective the sub-doshas responsible are Tarpaka Kapha, Sadhaka Pitta and Prana Vata. Tarpaka Kapha, a sub-dosha of Kapha, nourishes the brain cells and facilitates a good night’s sleep.

How yoga helps

Yoga has proven to be a great stress buster, and offers relaxation techniques including breathing exercises and meditation. Restorative, calming poses help you wind down towards sleep.

The best thing about yoga is that it has no side effects and helps the body over the long run. Besides enhancing flexibility, its benefits are many — and Ayurveda with Yoga together can help an individual overcome the condition.