How do you transition from a demanding day into a night of restorative rest? To truly power down, the body requires a physical signal that it is safe to release the day's accumulated stress. In Season 1, Episode 6 of Everyday Yoga: Energy, acclaimed instructor Colleen Saidman Yee offers a targeted sequence designed to quiet the nervous system and prepare you for deep sleep.
This 10 minute evening yoga session focuses on gentle hip openers and forward folds to ground your energy. By practicing this evening hatha yoga practice, you can consciously shift out of a state of constant alertness and into a state of ease. Using two blocks for support, this level 1 yoga for sleep is accessible to all experience levels, making it an ideal gentle bedtime yoga routine. Forward bends naturally draw our attention inward, cooling the body's temperature and slowing the heart rate, while hip openers release the emotional and physical tightness that accumulates from hours of sitting or standing.
Through mindful alignment and deep, steady breathing, Colleen Saidman Yee yoga teaches us how to meet physical resistance with softness rather than effort. This restorative evening stretch does not demand flexibility; instead, it invites you to use props to meet the floor, allowing your muscles to fully surrender their grip. By dedicating just a few minutes to this practice before bed, you establish a sacred boundary between the active hours of the day and the quiet hours of the night.
Unwind from the day and restore your inner balance. Begin your exploration of this soothing practice on Gaia today.
