The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.

W.C. Fields

Sometimes things in cyberspace seem to magically align. More than once, I have posted something only to find out that several other bloggers wrote about the same topic the same day! It happened again on Sunday, but in a different way.

On Sunday Mornings with Twitchy Woman this past Sunday, my guest, yoga instructor Amy Wolfe, guided us through a Yoga Nidra practice. For those of you who are not familiar with Yoga Nidra, it is a meditation/relaxation practice based on yoga principles. Many people incorporate Yoga Nidra into their nighttime routine with the goal of getting better sleep. If you are like me, sleep is often elusive, especially at 3:00 AM. There must be a way to get a better night’s sleep than taking a sleeping pill. So when Amy offered to lead our group in Yoga Nidra, I jumped at the opportunity.

There were about 20 of us online for Amy’s presentation. As we settled down on our yoga mats, with blankets and bolsters as props, Amy began to speak softly, guiding us through a 25 minute meditation. Most of us were so relaxed that we actually dozed off a little. More importantly, many of us felt that our Parkinson’s symptoms improved as we relaxed.

Non-Sleep Deep Rest

Later that afternoon, while checking emails, I discovered that another blogger, Frank C. Church, had just published a post on sleep the same day. Not just any ordinary night’s sleep, but Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR). In other words, Yoga Nidra! Frank is a former college professor, so his writing is much more scholarly than mine. He even uses real data to make a point! I encourage you to read his post Science Sunday: The Benefit of Taking Naps and Using Non-Sleep Deep Rest to Improve the Quality-of-Life in Parkinson’s

…it otherwise is the same as yoga nidra

From Frank C. Church:

“By contrast, non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) refers to a state of rest similar to deep sleep but without actual sleep. It is a profound relaxation where the body and mind experience therapeutic benefits. Dr. Andrew Huberman coined the term non-sleep deep rest, and it otherwise is the same as yoga nidra. However, Dr. Huberman uses the non-sleep deep rest term (NSDR) for group naps, hypnosis, and meditation. He describes these events to enable people to down-regulate the thinking brain and to move to a calmer state. A further comparison of naps and NSDR, including an instruction manual for practicing NSDR/yoga nidra, is given in the excellent overview “Guide to non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) and how to get started” (click here).“

Thank you Frank, for filling in all of the details for me. And thank you Amy for enabling us to get some real rest. Find out more about Amy’s yoga classes on her website WellbyWolfe.

The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more.

Wilson Mizener

---

Next on Sunday Mornings with Twitchy Woman

November 19, 2023  at 1 PM ET, 10:00 AM PT 

What I Didn’t Say

View a taped performance followed by a conversation with author/actor Matthew Moore. Based on extensive interviews, this relatable portrayal of Paul and Marty’s journey through Parkinson’s helps us explore, from a safe distance, the issues we all face–the patient’s struggle with every-growing motor and non-motor symptoms, the overwhelming demands on care partners, the difficulty of genuine communication with medical professionals, and nearly everything in-between.

Care Partners and Family Members are encouraged to attend.

Register on Evenbrite.

Have a great week!