Yoga for sleep

Individuals with insomnia are seeking natural remedies to improve sleep. This article is written by a yoga instructor, as she makes some interesting claims. First, she writes that "sleeplessness" is linked to all sorts of health problems. I wonder if she is confusing sleep deprivation with insomnia. Insomnia, when diagnosed by a doctor, has not been definitively linked to all of the health problems she lists. Sleep deprivation has been studied and data links it to some of the health conditions listed. Sleep deprivation is not the same as insomnia.

Then she writes about her treatment plan for insomnia, which includes yoga poses and breathing. However, no links to studies showing this helps is provided. The one aspect that may help is counting backwards, as this technique may distract individuals from their own thoughts when in bed attempting to fall asleep. The most helpful way to improve insomnia is with a form of psychotherapy, called cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).

Yoga may improve insomnia

This article discusses research showing that twice a week yoga may help woman with breast cancer sleep better. Improvements were seen in sleep quality and duration in women with a clinical diagnosis of insomnia and in those that just had mild sleep disruption. Those that were in the yoga group reduced sleep medicine use by 21 percent per week. Those not in the yoga group increased their sleep aid use by 5 percent per week. The participants use Gentle Hatha yoga, which focuses on physical postures, and Restorative yoga, with an emphasis on relaxation, breathing and meditation. I've never done yoga, so I am not sure if other types of yoga would also benefit sleep quality.

Yoga may improve restless legs syndrome

This article demonstrates in a small group of women with restless legs syndrome (RLS) improved with regular yoga. There is no control group, so it's not clear that the yoga itself improved their RLS. In many patients, RLS symptoms wax and wane, so some of the improvement may be regression toward the mean - the RLS may have gotten better with time alone, and the yoga may not have anything to do with it. Also, exercise has been shown to help RLS - not just yoga.

Yoga may improve chronic insomnia

This article discusses research showing that yoga may improve chronic insomnia.