Sleep is such a crucial aspect of ongoing wellness. I was reminded of this in a humbling manor while away at a training with my mentor last month.

Sorry, guys this is a very girl-y example!

On rare special occasions, to indulge my feminine playful essence, I adorn myself with false eyelashes. This came up as a topic of conversation on a break at the training amongst a couple of my goddess sisters and my dear friend Sunny from Taiwan had the supplies and skills to apply false eyelashes that would last a week! This was a marvel for us, so I volunteered to receive her tutelage and that evening she glued these lashes on me. They were thick and lush and looked FABULOUS… there was only one condition: I needed to be careful sleeping so I wouldn’t distort their shape. These lashes were super fun and I received so many compliments! My ego was in heaven.

However, at night, I found myself waking up every hour or so, re-positioning myself so I wouldn’t flatten these crazy eye lashes (did I mention I have the habit of sleeping with my face partially turned into the pillow? not so good for lashes.).

3 days came and went: during the day, I enjoyed the flattery of compliments and at night I would restlessly toss and turn, waking up with a start all throughout the night, attempting to protect these lashes. By the afternoon of that third day, I was beyond exhausted, my energy vibration was down through the floor and I was a mess! On a break, I went back to our room, had a good cry and removed the lashes. For as much pleasure as they brought, the sacrifice of my quality of sleep was too great. I laid down and slept soundly for over 2 hours! That night, I slept soundly again for almost 10 hours! All of a sudden, sleeping right through the night never felt so good!

This is a silly example, but the consequences were very real for me. Sleep deprivation commonly leads to:

• over-sensitivity,
• unrealistic expectations and perceptions of self and others,
• over-reaction,
• slower reflexes,
• tumultuous decision making,
• physical exhaustion, and
• more.

From my own experience, there are several factors that ensure I sleep restfully:

• when I sleep,
• how I sleep, and
• what my state of mind and emotions are before I go to sleep.

For me, I know that the amount of sleep I need fluctuates from time to time, based on what I am experiencing and what my physical body needs to support me. Right now, I am doing a lot of deep inner releasing, so my physical body needs 9 to 10 hours of sleep a night. This won’t last forever, but it is the clear direction I am receiving at the moment. I also know that, for me, I feel better when I go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier, rather then going to bed late and sleeping in until late. When I do that, I don’t wake feeling as rested and often that groggy feeling lingers into my day, taking away from the clarity and vitality that are so important to me. I personally listen to a mediation CD or meditative instrumental pieces before sleep, so that I fall asleep in a peaceful state of being, mentally and emotionally. I know that when I go to sleep agitated from inner mental gymnastics or emotional upset, I rarely sleep through the night, waking up often and not getting the deep rest and rejuvenation my body requires.

You will know what is best for you body. When you have the BEST night’s sleep, what conditions are present?

• what do you need to do to quiet your mind/emotions before going to bed? how can you ‘complete’ for the day?
• what time of night serves you best to go to sleep?
• how many hours of sleep does your body actually need right now? our bodies needs can sometimes be different then our preferences… take a moment and tune into your body – what does it actually need right now?
• what kinds of activities serve you best after dinner, before you go to bed to create a successful night’s sleep? *schedule that into your daily calendar to make sure you look after yourself.
• what kind of ritual can you do for yourself to create the most positive, peaceful and still environment – inside and out – for you to go to sleep in? Take a look at your room and your nightly routine – what can be tweaked to create an optimal environment for restful sleep?

One thing is true for us all: getting enough rest consistently is a crucial element in living a positive life.

~Namaste. Shilo

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(*Source: The Common Sense Guide to Effortless Health, by Bijan)