Source: Times of India
Ask anyone who complains of insomnia, and you will know why sleep should be valued. Sleep is divine, and should be worshipped like a goddess, with respect. It's when we abuse our body, subjecting it to unnatural practices that sleep evades us - and we find it virtually impossible to sleep later, when we hit the sack.
We have now opted for a lifestyle, in which our bodies remain sedentary, but our mind is restless. After a hard day's work, it is natural for our indriyas or senses to be tired, and to switch off automatically so that natural, deep sleep follows. But with innumerable changes in our lifestyle, we have managed to disturb the body's natural rhythms. Our jobs are generally sedentary, and our minds disturbed and agitated, battling with stress. We often hit the bed - not to sleep, but to lie awake, reviewing the day's activities. One thought leads to another, and the vicious cycle goes on. In such a scenario, is it any wonder that people have insomnia?
The right time
Ideally, you should sleep two to three hours after dinner. Aim to eat by 8 pm and sleep by 10 pm. After dinner, focus on deactivating the mind, so avoid stimulating conversation, or watching TV soaps or even the news. Concentrate on putting the mind into a restful mode. If the mind is restless, restless thoughts will follow you to bed and you will find it difficult to sleep.
You should sleep soundly, not in fits and starts, so that you wake up refreshed, peaceful, satiated and energetic, ready to start a new day with enthusiasm. Sleep is a natural process - you will sleep when the body is tired and you wake up when your body feels fresh and rejuvenated. If you wake up tense and anxious with a heavy head and restless mind after a bout of tamasic sleep, the aim of sleep is defeated.
Ideally, a person sleeps when the mind is empty of thoughts. However, our lifestyle is now inverted. Instead of resting after dinner, we head off for late-night parties, indulge in animated conversation. Worse still, sit in front of the TV or computer.
Disturbing dreams
A rested and peaceful person, who works hard during the day, sleeps soundly. The other type, who leaves behind unfinished projects, or escapes from his regular duties might be plagued by restless dreams - for what are dreams but your mind's way of stringing together stray thoughts and images that are stored in your mind? In a dream-state, we are constantly recalling our samskaras or the actions of our kaaran shareer or causal body. Dreams stem from our causal body, from what is stored in our chitta. Dreams are the body's way of cleansing and washing off these thoughts. They don't let us sleep soundly, leaving us dull and heavy-headed, yearning for more sleep. Disturbed sleep patterns finally affect the body as they eat into energy levels and leave the body open to disease.
A sound sleep, on the other hand, is the body's way of getting in touch with its consciousness. This translates into total peace - a state in which the mind, ego, intellect and the storehouse of memories or chitta is completely at rest. A sound sleep leaves you relaxed, energetic, and fresh. You might also have a short snooze in the day that leaves you well rested. At such times, you have touched your consciousness.
Impact on health
When the body is deprived of quality sleep, you could suffer from indigestion, constipation, blood pressure, heart disease, Parkinson's, anxiety, eye trouble, nervous system disorders, and even memory loss. Hormones are also affected. This affects our creativity, making us less alert and fresh. Thinking negatively is then a natural corollary.
Opt for a light dinner. Avoid overeating; keep portions a wee bit less than what you eat. Wash feet, hands, face, and sleep in fresh nightclothes. Keep your bedroom ventilated and tidy. The right mattress and posture is important. Chanting Aum a few times, and two minutes of bhraamari pranayam and shavasana before you sleep, helps.
Our health rests on the three intertwined pillars of ahaar or diet, neendh or sleep and brahmcharya or path to self-realisation. All three are responsible for our well-being. While diet and the path to self-realisation has been the focus of The Speaking Tree earlier, this time, we will focus on sleep - the various types, its importance and impact on our health.
Sleep is divine
Sleep is divine
Ask anyone who complains of insomnia, and you will know why sleep should be valued. Sleep is divine, and should be worshipped like a goddess, with respect. It's when we abuse our body, subjecting it to unnatural practices that sleep evades us - and we find it virtually impossible to sleep later, when we hit the sack.
We have now opted for a lifestyle, in which our bodies remain sedentary, but our mind is restless. After a hard day's work, it is natural for our indriyas or senses to be tired, and to switch off automatically so that natural, deep sleep follows. But with innumerable changes in our lifestyle, we have managed to disturb the body's natural rhythms. Our jobs are generally sedentary, and our minds disturbed and agitated, battling with stress. We often hit the bed - not to sleep, but to lie awake, reviewing the day's activities. One thought leads to another, and the vicious cycle goes on. In such a scenario, is it any wonder that people have insomnia?
The right time
Ideally, you should sleep two to three hours after dinner. Aim to eat by 8 pm and sleep by 10 pm. After dinner, focus on deactivating the mind, so avoid stimulating conversation, or watching TV soaps or even the news. Concentrate on putting the mind into a restful mode. If the mind is restless, restless thoughts will follow you to bed and you will find it difficult to sleep.
You should sleep soundly, not in fits and starts, so that you wake up refreshed, peaceful, satiated and energetic, ready to start a new day with enthusiasm. Sleep is a natural process - you will sleep when the body is tired and you wake up when your body feels fresh and rejuvenated. If you wake up tense and anxious with a heavy head and restless mind after a bout of tamasic sleep, the aim of sleep is defeated.
Ideally, a person sleeps when the mind is empty of thoughts. However, our lifestyle is now inverted. Instead of resting after dinner, we head off for late-night parties, indulge in animated conversation. Worse still, sit in front of the TV or computer.
Disturbing dreams
A rested and peaceful person, who works hard during the day, sleeps soundly. The other type, who leaves behind unfinished projects, or escapes from his regular duties might be plagued by restless dreams - for what are dreams but your mind's way of stringing together stray thoughts and images that are stored in your mind? In a dream-state, we are constantly recalling our samskaras or the actions of our kaaran shareer or causal body. Dreams stem from our causal body, from what is stored in our chitta. Dreams are the body's way of cleansing and washing off these thoughts. They don't let us sleep soundly, leaving us dull and heavy-headed, yearning for more sleep. Disturbed sleep patterns finally affect the body as they eat into energy levels and leave the body open to disease.
A sound sleep, on the other hand, is the body's way of getting in touch with its consciousness. This translates into total peace - a state in which the mind, ego, intellect and the storehouse of memories or chitta is completely at rest. A sound sleep leaves you relaxed, energetic, and fresh. You might also have a short snooze in the day that leaves you well rested. At such times, you have touched your consciousness.
Impact on health
When the body is deprived of quality sleep, you could suffer from indigestion, constipation, blood pressure, heart disease, Parkinson's, anxiety, eye trouble, nervous system disorders, and even memory loss. Hormones are also affected. This affects our creativity, making us less alert and fresh. Thinking negatively is then a natural corollary.
Opt for a light dinner. Avoid overeating; keep portions a wee bit less than what you eat. Wash feet, hands, face, and sleep in fresh nightclothes. Keep your bedroom ventilated and tidy. The right mattress and posture is important. Chanting Aum a few times, and two minutes of bhraamari pranayam and shavasana before you sleep, helps.
