Nikki Jongedyk – Remedial Massage Therapist
Recent sleep studies have investigated how much we move during sleep. We need to move to keep circulation and oxygen moving through our muscles. During a good nights sleep of 7-9 hours, you will ideally move for a total of 9 minutes. During a bad night of sleep (under 4 hours) you only move for around 2 minutes.
Calming your central nervous system before sleep is a key strategy to optimising your subtle sleep movements.
Ways to do this are the following:
- Read a book instead of playing on your phone before bed
- Practice some gentle stretching
- Use your shakti mat
- Going to bed at a decent hour – when you feel the cues from your body
- Listening to a meditation sequence,
- Breath work – in particular lengthening your exhale
- Rubbing lotion or magnesium onto your body
Another comment I hear a lot from clients is that they shouldn’t sleep in a certain position. If you are moving 9 minutes during the night, you’re going to be in different positions. Hence, there is no right position to be in for sleep. Key things to remember: Sleep however you feel comfortable Try not to go to bed shattered, rather go when you feel the gentle pull.