Yoga Michigan

Q: My husband has a very stressful job and he suffers from insomnia. I think he is also depressed. I read somewhere that yoga can help with insomnia and other mental illnesses. Can you give me more details?

 

A: Yoga can help with a variety of mental disturbances, including insomnia and depression. Here are a few techniques that may help. 

 

1) Brahmari (Bee breath)

Sit in a comfortable position, with the back straight and eyes and mouth closed. Gently cup the hands over the eyes and plug the ears with the thumbs. Inhale deeply. When exhaling, make an "mmmmm" sound from the throat. Repeat for 2 minutes, allowing each sound to resonate within the body. 

 

2)  Shavasana (Corpse pose)

Lie down face up, with the feet slightly apart and hands away from the body, palms facing up. Close the eyes and focus on the breath. Imagine relaxing each part of the body from the tip of the toes all the way up to the top of the head. If any thoughts come to mind during the process, release them. 

 

Other things that may help are not watching TV or performing any mentally stimulating activities 30 minutes before bed time, drinking a warm glass of milk before sleeping, not eating 3 hours before sleep, doing stretches in bed, and listening to soothing music. 

 

Mental mastery takes years of dedicated practice, but hopefully these techniques will get your husband on the right track. You can also be his good advisor by asking pertinent 

questions, such as why he continues to work a job he is not happy with. If the cause of the problem is not eiminated, these techniques will only serve as temporary fixes to cover the underlying problem.