Do you ever find that you are tired when you come home from work but bedtime seems a long way off.
By the time you've made dinner, helped the kids with their homework and watched a bit of TV, you're wired.
A lot of people get wired from the computer and even thinking about what's up tomorrow.
By the time you've hit the pillow, that herd of sheep is nowhere to be seen.
Here's a tip from Kundalini Yoga.
It's called left nostril breathing.
It may seem peculiar but it is a very quick and easy way to turn your brain off and relax you.
In scientific terms it becomes easy to understand when you know that the left nostril is connected to the opposite side of the brain - the right side.
Part of the nervous system that controls rest and the activities associated with rest is called the parasympathetic nervous system.
It is housed in the right hemisphere of the brain.
By getting in touch with the part of the brain that counteracts stressers in your life, calming you down, your body is more conducive to sleep.
Not only does left nostril breathing calm you down, it signals the body to cool, down, begin to repair what needs fixing, digest your food, slow your heart rate and melt stress right out of existence.
It shuts down that flight or fight response that seems to be in high gear most of the time.
It snuffs out all of the contributors that keep you awake.
It may surprise you to know that your body has a dominant nostril that it breathes through.
It alternates about every two and one-half hours.
You can actually tell which nostril your body is dominating at any one time.
By plugging one nostril with your thumb you can tell which nostril seems to be breathing easier than the other.
The one that is breathing the easiest at the moment is the dominant nostril right now.
Each side of the brain has specific functions like metabolic regulation, temperature control, hormone balance and many other physiological functions that are important to your health.
By naturally alternating brain activity by dominant nostril breathing, the body gets done what it needs to do.
To go to sleep, you need to convince the left nostril that it is the dominant one right now.
So get yourself comfy in bed and lay on your right side.
This helps the left nostril open.
With your right hand, use your thumb or your index finger and close off the left nostril.
Breathe as deeply and slowly as you can for several minutes or until you fall asleep.
If your left nostril seems plugged try using a drop of eucalyptus essential oil around the outer edge of the nostril.
Some people can seem to get to sleep easily but can't seem to stay asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and toss and turn until it is time to get up.
Again, left nostril breathing should help you get back to sleep.
It will help convince your brain that it is indeed time to sleep.
By the time you've made dinner, helped the kids with their homework and watched a bit of TV, you're wired.
A lot of people get wired from the computer and even thinking about what's up tomorrow.
By the time you've hit the pillow, that herd of sheep is nowhere to be seen.
Here's a tip from Kundalini Yoga.
It's called left nostril breathing.
It may seem peculiar but it is a very quick and easy way to turn your brain off and relax you.
In scientific terms it becomes easy to understand when you know that the left nostril is connected to the opposite side of the brain - the right side.
Part of the nervous system that controls rest and the activities associated with rest is called the parasympathetic nervous system.
It is housed in the right hemisphere of the brain.
By getting in touch with the part of the brain that counteracts stressers in your life, calming you down, your body is more conducive to sleep.
Not only does left nostril breathing calm you down, it signals the body to cool, down, begin to repair what needs fixing, digest your food, slow your heart rate and melt stress right out of existence.
It shuts down that flight or fight response that seems to be in high gear most of the time.
It snuffs out all of the contributors that keep you awake.
It may surprise you to know that your body has a dominant nostril that it breathes through.
It alternates about every two and one-half hours.
You can actually tell which nostril your body is dominating at any one time.
By plugging one nostril with your thumb you can tell which nostril seems to be breathing easier than the other.
The one that is breathing the easiest at the moment is the dominant nostril right now.
Each side of the brain has specific functions like metabolic regulation, temperature control, hormone balance and many other physiological functions that are important to your health.
By naturally alternating brain activity by dominant nostril breathing, the body gets done what it needs to do.
To go to sleep, you need to convince the left nostril that it is the dominant one right now.
So get yourself comfy in bed and lay on your right side.
This helps the left nostril open.
With your right hand, use your thumb or your index finger and close off the left nostril.
Breathe as deeply and slowly as you can for several minutes or until you fall asleep.
If your left nostril seems plugged try using a drop of eucalyptus essential oil around the outer edge of the nostril.
Some people can seem to get to sleep easily but can't seem to stay asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and toss and turn until it is time to get up.
Again, left nostril breathing should help you get back to sleep.
It will help convince your brain that it is indeed time to sleep.