Having trouble falling asleep?
You will be surprised to know that research suggests that almost a third of adults experience chronic insomnia, a sleep disorder characterised by persistent difficulties in falling or staying asleep.
Sleep is a necessary human function — it allows our brains to recharge and our bodies to rest. Sleep is so crucial that even slight sleep deprivation or poor sleep can affect memory, judgment and mood.
What is Stress?
Stress and anxiety are often to blame for sleep issues. During periods of tension, the body activates its natural stress response, beginning with a cascade of hormones that make us feel more alert and trigger even more physiological changes. The breathing becomes short and rapid, heart rate and blood pressure increases, and our digestion slows.
Relaxation Exercises To Help Fall Asleep
There are exercises to lower one’s heart rate and blood pressure, slow and deepen breathing, and create an increased sense of well-being. While these exercises are safe for most people, others may benefit from talking to their doctors before trying these techniques. This is particularly important for those with epilepsy, psychiatric conditions, or a history of trauma.
Breathing exercises
- While lying down, place one hand on your upper chest and the other hand at the top of your belly, right below your rib cage. Your hands will help to make sure that you’re only breathing through your belly during this exercise.
- Breathe in through the nose so your belly pushes against your hand. Your other hand and your chest should remain as still as possible.
- While continuing to keep your chest still, tighten your stomach muscles and exhale through puckered lips.
- Repeat this process.
Dead Sea salts for Better Sleep
Dead Sea salts, made of magnesium sulphate, are an old-fashioned remedy for soothing tired, aching muscles.
That’s because magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant. It accomplishes this by moving calcium out of the muscles, and back into the bloodstream where it can be mobilised elsewhere. It’s also a critical nutrient to your body’s glucose metabolism—magnesium helps to regulate blood sugar by assisting cells in producing energy from glucose.
What does that all have to do with sleep?
Releasing muscle tension is a key element in allowing the body to initiate the relaxation process, which is necessary for sleep. And because the metabolism supporting nature of magnesium helps to produce cellular energy, your blood sugar can be better stabilised. This is essential for maintaining balanced hormonal levels that help you sleep.
Your body can absorb this magnesium from Dead Sea salts quite efficiently, so Dead Sea salt baths are an excellent way to supplement the calmative mineral. And Dead Sea salts also serve to provide a gentle, effective detox bath.
Use natural remedies like bath salts and essential oils to calm down your senses and reduce stress.