If you haven’t heard already, prioritising self-care is the way to improve your life. Self-care can take many forms, from a new mattress or pillow set to face masks and pizza nights to ‘treat yourself’. It means investing in your overall quality of life and building (and maintaining) positive, wellness-based habits.

The Charaka Samhita, a foundational yogic text, states, “Happiness, misery, nourishment, emaciation, strength, weakness, virility, sterility, knowledge, ignorance, life and death — all these occur depending on proper or improper sleep.”

Wellness is the bedrock of our lives, and sleep may be the bedrock of wellness. Obviously, there are many factors that go into a comprehensive wellness plan but, unfortunately, the first one we tend to ‘cheat’ is our sleep routine. Here’s how you can start prioritising your sleep quality, in an easy, and manageable way.

We are programmed to be in work mode 24/7. While this can be great for flexibility, it can lead to a lot of unrecognised stress. We’ve learned to be “online” and available to our clients and our bosses. This is often at the expense of our quality of life and even more often, our sleep. How often have you heard a coworker brag about how little sleep they’ve gotten during the week while working on a project? Don’t be afraid to get nine hours if you need it. Trust us, that email will be waiting for you when you wake up.

Alicia Sanchez at Yoga Teacher Prep says that her key is to get into a routine, and stick to it no matter what!

“Bedtime routines aren’t only for children,” says Sanchez. “They serve a real purpose–to signal the body that it’s time to get ready for sleep. A bedtime routine doesn’t need to be lengthy or extensive, but it should help you relax. A warm bath, reading a book (not on a screen), light meditation… are all activities that help the body release tension from the day and prepare for rest. After a while, as soon as the routine starts, the body begins the process of preparing for sleep on its own.”

With that in mind, here are some basic ways we’ve come up with to jumpstart your sleep routine and begin your journey to better sleep hygiene. Take these practices to heart and feel rejuvenated with a healthy balance of sleep and yoga. Your mind AND body will thank you.

If you haven’t heard already, prioritising self-care is the way to improve your life. Self-care can take many forms, from a new mattress or pillow set to face masks and pizza nights to ‘treat yourself’. It means investing in your overall quality of life and building (and maintaining) positive, wellness-based habits.

The Charaka Samhita, a foundational yogic text, states, “Happiness, misery, nourishment, emaciation, strength, weakness, virility, sterility, knowledge, ignorance, life and death — all these occur depending on proper or improper sleep.”

Wellness is the bedrock of our lives, and sleep may be the bedrock of wellness. Obviously, there are many factors that go into a comprehensive wellness plan but, unfortunately, the first one we tend to ‘cheat’ is our sleep routine. Here’s how you can start prioritising your sleep quality, in an easy, and manageable way.

We are programmed to be in work mode 24/7. While this can be great for flexibility, it can lead to a lot of unrecognised stress. We’ve learned to be “online” and available to our clients and our bosses. This is often at the expense of our quality of life and even more often, our sleep. How often have you heard a coworker brag about how little sleep they’ve gotten during the week while working on a project? Don’t be afraid to get nine hours if you need it. Trust us, that email will be waiting for you when you wake up.

Alicia Sanchez at Yoga Teacher Prep says that her key is to get into a routine, and stick to it no matter what!

“Bedtime routines aren’t only for children,” says Sanchez. “They serve a real purpose–to signal the body that it’s time to get ready for sleep. A bedtime routine doesn’t need to be lengthy or extensive, but it should help you relax. A warm bath, reading a book (not on a screen), light meditation… are all activities that help the body release tension from the day and prepare for rest. After a while, as soon as the routine starts, the body begins the process of preparing for sleep on its own.”

With that in mind, here are some basic ways we’ve come up with to jumpstart your sleep routine and begin your journey to better sleep hygiene. Take these practices to heart and feel rejuvenated with a healthy balance of sleep and yoga. Your mind AND body will thank you.