If anyone has ever experienced a period of time when sleep has been elusive, you know firsthand the benefits of a good night’s sleep!
The benefits of sleep include:
• better concentration, brain function, and productivity;
• better health and lower weight gain;
• higher immune function;
• health benefits, including lower risk of heart disease;
• lower inflammation; and
• better athletic performance and stamina.
Many factors can cause a person to be unable to sleep. If this is your issue, no doubt you’ve already done some research yourself: sleep apnea, nutritional deficiencies, alcohol or caffeine, lack of exercise, dehydration, screen time before bedtime, physical pain, hormonal imbalance, etc. (Of course, it’s recommended that if you experience lack of sleep for an ongoing period of time, you should consult with your medical practitioner.)
For many people, a side effect of holding emotional, mental, and physical stress in their bodies is not being able to fall asleep and/or not staying asleep.
This can be true whether you’ve experienced a life event that has left you holding relentless tension in your body, such as going through a contentious divorce, which leaves you constantly on edge; a narcissistically abusive relationship, where you’re waiting for the next attack, caring for a loved one who is ill, where you’re never sure when the next health crisis might happen; or if you’ve recently lost a spouse, leaving you feeling alone and afraid.
And whether you’re suffering from life stress, work stress, or emotional stress, when you hold this stress and tension in your body, your brain and nervous system send the message to the rest of our body that it’s not safe to let go.
When we’re under stress or emotional tension, our anti-gravity muscles go into overtime.
When upright, we must constantly use certain muscles to support ourselves against the force of gravity. We call these muscles the “antigravity muscles,” and they include the calf muscles, quadricep muscles (muscles group on top of the thighs), the big muscles along the front and back of the spine—the quadratus lumborum (QLs) in the back and the psoas in the front, and even the jaw and the eyelids.
When these muscles are engaged, the nervous system says “It’s not sleep time,” making it harder for the brain to shut down.
The Feldenkrais Method® offers a possibility for relief from this constant holding of muscular and mental tension. Through slow, small, gentle movements, you are guided to sense and feel the comfort of each movement, and as this sensory information is processed by your brain, almost spontaneously, these unnecessary unconscious muscular contractions let go. To learn more about how The Feldenkrais Method® works to release unconsciously-held muscle tension that keeps you from being able to down-regulate and sleep, click here.
Throughout a lesson, you’ll notice an overall feeling of relaxation throughout your entire body. There is a letting go of muscle contractions overall and students often find themselves breathing more freely and easily, as well as having a sense of calm and well-being. The parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) kicks in, and most people report a good night’s sleep after just one lesson.
Feldenkrais® can be done either in private in person sessions or in group settings — either on line or in person. To learn more about weekly classes offered on line, click here.