The New Year is here and many of us have made resolutions to lose weight, be healthier and have more energy. The good news is that there is one resolution that can help you achieve all these goals- and that is to sleep more!
According to personal trainer Andrea Metcalf,“sleep helps rejuvenate the body and balances your hormones to use energy from fat. Inadequate amount of sleep has been linked to weight gain.”
When you get a good night’s rest you are also more likely to have the energy you will need to get in a good workout!
Most of us will now agree that sleep is important to achieving our new year’s resolutions, but sometimes it just seems impossible to fall asleep. Andrea Metcalf suggests the following restorative exercises that will trigger the parasympathetic nervous system to activate the relaxation response.
Step 1: Butterfly
Take two large towels and fold them in half, then roll them into a cylinder. Lie on the ground with one towel between your shoulder blades and supporting your heart and the other towel just below your belt line.
Bring the bottom of your feet together with knees to the sides and arms open. Take 10 deep breaths and relax the body.
Step 2: Crossover
Start by lying on the floor or a firm surface with your legs extended and arms open to the side. Bring one knee up toward the hips and cross over your body.
Breathe deeply as you extend the leg on an angle. Inhale as you bend the knee back to center and exhale as you straighten it to the floor.
Alternate sides for a series of 10 repetitions.
Step 3: Spine Roll
Start in a seated position with your knees tucked into your chest. Slowly roll back until your shoulder blades touch the ground, then roll back upward.
Repeat for 10 repetitions.
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