Welcome to Day 7 of our 7 Day Digestion with Ayurveda Invitation
Today we explore the transformative power of restful sleep. There are so many reasons to do our best to get a great sleep. Of course, there are things that get in the way, the idea is to do our best to feel as rested. There are some tried and trusted ways to do this according to Ayurveda.
Today’s Invitation: Sleep Well
Your invitation is to cultivate a restful evening routine that supports deep, rejuvenating sleep.
🌙 Wind Down Early: Finish your dinner by 6 PM to give your digestive system time to rest before bedtime. Opt for light meals like soups or steamed vegetables.
🌙 Rest in a a Calm Environment: Create a calm, clutter-free space for sleep. Use dim lighting, calming essential oils (like lavender or sandalwood), or a meditation or to signal your body it’s time to rest. Ground, relax into sleep.
🌙 Sleep on the Left-Side : Sleep on your left side of your body to align with the natural position of your stomach, promoting optimal digestion.
🌙 Avoid Screen Time: Disconnect from screens at least an hour before bed at 10pm where possible and meditate between 9-10pm. Yoga Nidra is amazing before sleep- Insight Timer app has lots of great tools on there.
Why Sleep Matters for Digestion
During restful sleep, your body performs essential functions that directly affect your digestion:
Repair and Detoxification: At night, Pitta energy governs the body’s natural detoxification processes, with the liver and digestive system working to eliminate toxins.
Gut Microbiota Regulation: Sleep helps maintain a balanced gut microbiome, which is critical for digestion, nutrient absorption, and immunity.
Stress Reduction: Sleep reduces cortisol levels, calming the nervous system and preventing digestive disorders linked to stress, such as acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Ayurveda highlights the interdependence of sleep and digestion. When digestion is weak, the mind and body lack the energy needed to fall into deep sleep. Conversely, poor sleep can disrupt the digestive fire (agni), leading to imbalances such as bloating, indigestion, and fatigue.
Ayurvedic Sleep Practices
Here are some Ayurvedic rituals to enhance sleep and digestion:
🌿 Golden Milk Recipe:
Ingredients: 1 cup warm almond milk, ½ tsp turmeric, ¼ tsp nutmeg, honey to taste. Cow's milk is particularly grounding so if you drink milk then that might be nice.
Instructions: Warm the milk gently, stir in the spices, and sip slowly before bed.
🌿 Abhyanga (Self-Massage):
The whole body is recommended, lots of videos on youtube. Apply warm oil and light massage to calm the nervous system and promote relaxation. Choose a nice organic oil that works with your dosha. My favorite resource for food and oil guidelines is this
🌿 Teas:
Depending on your unique constitution you could sip teas with chamomile, fennel, or holy basil to soothe the mind and support digestion. Ashwaghanda tea, and CuminCorianderFennel tea are some of my favourites. See the article on teas for more ideas and info
🌿 Evening Yoga:
Practice gentle poses like child’s pose or legs up the wall to relax your body and prepare for restful sleep. Yoga Nidra is amazing before sleep- Insight Timer app has lots of great tools on there. I also recommend meditating before sleep. Ayurveda recommends winding down and meditating between 9pm-10pm and going to sleep at 10pm- more on this in the timing invitation
Sleep & the Three Pillars of Health
Ayurveda teaches us that restful sleep is one of the Three Pillars of Life, alongside food and sexual energy. Proper sleep enhances all bodily functions, including digestion, immunity, and mental clarity.
When sleep is made important in one's life harmony within all aspects of life, from the physical to the spiritual is created. It's a great way to give your body and mind a place to stand. Once the mind becomes engaged in the practice the body follows. Health is a balance of mindful actions, nourishing routines, and gratitude for the body’s natural rhythms. Sleep is not just an escape or an end to the day but an essential part of the day and of life, of self-care that connects us with our inner and outer worlds and ultimately leads to happiness and peace.
Would you like to deepen your practice? 🌿 Book a Custom Ayurvedic Consultation to create a personalized wellness plan tailored to your unique needs.
🌿 Ayurvedic Consultations🌿 Custom Retreats 🌿 Yoga & Wellness Classes🌿 Physical Therapy
~*~ We are the magic and the medicine ~*~
Gratefully your partner on the Path,
Karla
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