Yoga is a Sleep Aide for Kids

Written by A. Simon, May 2019, MN USA

©️Minnesota Kid’s Yoga Co., LLC - Blog

Sleep deprivation is a real thing…

Whenever someone mentions they have a newborn baby, or a teething toddler, the first response people generally make is, “how are they sleeping?” As a new parent, it can either be an easy question to answer, or an annoying question to answer. Some people have kids that just get it. They go to sleep right away, and stay asleep all night long. However, there are plenty of families that struggle night after night to help their child sleep. There is no exact reason why some kids sleep better than others, but there are plenty of tips and resources out there to help guide parents on how to sleep train their children.

Medicine is usually a last resort option, and even Melatonin (a more natural sleep aide), isn’t always a good thing to use on a daily basis for extended amounts of time (quoted from Mayo Clinic). Therefore, what other ideas can parents use when trying to help their children sleep?

Ever thought about yoga and sleep? I currently teach an 8:30pm yoga class. Some might argue that your body should not be physically active this late at night, I argue that a good yoga session make your body more ready to sleep.

Therefore, here is my advice… Trade up a cartoon, or a game on the iPad, for some night-time yoga. Teach your child some breathing techniques and some light stretching poses. Create a routine each night of postures to do together, even in bed! Do this consistently for one month. After a month, compare your child’s sleep habits from before yoga nights to after yoga nights. I am positive you will see a change! You might even see a change in your OWN sleeping habits!

In an article from Harvard.edu, titled “Yoga for Better Sleep” is was recorded that, “Yoga is a gentle and restorative way to wind down your day. A national survey found that over 55% of people who did yoga found that it helped them get better sleep. Over 85% said yoga helped reduce stress.” The article went on to state that you can use supportive props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks to make poses comfortable so that you can stay in the pose longer to better aide sleep.

Therefore, what are you waiting for. Starting doing some yoga at bedtime tonight! I suggest doing the following 6 postures: seated forward fold, happy baby, supine spinal twists, bridge, cobbler, and plow.