5 Meditations for Deep, Restful Sleep
Meditation is a learned skill, and for the majority of us who have running to-do lists in our heads, it’s one that takes a lot of practice to become comfortable with. It’s no secret that it’s hard to turn our thoughts off — we are a culture that thrives on appearing “busy," and meditation is the complete antithesis of that. However, learning to harness your mind is beyond beneficial: this 2015 study demonstrated that adults who practiced mindfulness had fewer cases of insomnia, fatigue, and even depression compared to those who didn’t.
Our advice for better sleep? Design a healthy nighttime routine, and work in some daily mindfulness to your practice. Below are a few classes to get you started — you’ll be counting sheep in no time.
1. Ease Into Sleep - Sah D'Simone
Sink into deep, restful sleep with this guided meditation. In this class, you’ll work through the straw breath, a simple yet powerful breathing technique that will turn on your body’s self-healing system, reduce stress and anxiety, and help relieve insomnia.
2. Yoga Nidra for Sleep - Caley Alyssa
Sit back, relax, and prepare for sweet dreams. This yoga nidra practice will deeply relax your physical body to allow your conscious mind to effortlessly fall into a restful sleep state. Yoga nidra, also called yogic sleep, will draw you into the space between consciousness and sleep to peel back the layers and immerse you in full-body healing.
3. Meditation for Deep Sleep - Jackie Stewart
Let go of the day, reconnect with your body, and feel your breath as you settle into a place of deep rest. In this meditation, you’ll focus on stabilizing your mind to bring yourself into a more restful state. By working with your thoughts rather than against them, you can begin the process of allowing parts of your experience to arise and ultimately let them pass. This sense of release and letting go will bring you back to your open and relaxed nature while setting you up for deep sleep.
4. Guided Deep Healing Relaxation - Dharma Mittra
Silencing the physical body lets you hear the mind speak. In this 30-minute guided meditation, you’ll overcome the loudness of your thoughts and lean into a state of deep relaxation where both mind and body heal.
5. Sound Bath: Root Chakra - Phyllicia Bonanno
Anchor your energy with a healing root chakra sound bath. This guided meditation will balance your root chakra, which helps you feel grounded, balanced, and safe. This is the perfect meditation to practice if you’re feeling a lack of energy and focus, or if you’re feeling insecure in certain areas of your life. The sounds from the crystal singing bowls will vibrate throughout your whole being, allowing healing from within.
Want to explore our full library of relaxing meditation, yoga nidra, and sound baths? Start your free 14-day trial of Alo Moves here.