By Dr. Subhash S. Markande
March 17, 2023 (IANSlife) Ayurveda describes sleep as a basic instinct of life, essential to all living beings. Happiness and unhappiness, nourishment (proper physique) and non-nourishment, strength and debility, vigour and vitality, knowledge and ignorance, life span and death – all are dependant on sleep.
Understanding Nidra (sleep):
Ayurveda considers Nidra (sleep) as one of the three pillars of health, alongside Ahara (food) and Brahmacharya (code of conduct for energy management). Sleep is essential to ensure good health and well-being. It provides the basic strong resistance to combat minor diseases and imbalances on a long-term basis.
An important function of sleep is the enhancement of Ojas (vital energy) the master coordinator between mind, body and soul. Ojus being the fine product of digestion and a life-supporting element, helps to insulate the mind from daily stress and exertion. The quality and quantity of sleep, therefore, need to be balanced, so as to enable effective functioning and it is necessary to disconnect the mind from the senses. Although people have acknowledged the importance of good diet and exercise, they tend to ignore the importance of sleep, which in turn can have drastic consequences on one’s health.
For this, the elements of sleep that play a major role in getting perfect sleep need to be understood and practised. The right breathing pattern, snoring, the right posture, setting up a daily evening routine and creating a conducive physical environment are some of the key elements.
Thus Nidra (Sleep) is to be done and practised perfectly, like a ritual - for relaxing the body and quietening the mind to rest. Getting a good night's sleep is one of the most important things you can do to promote overall well-being and is to be considered and valued as one of life’s ultimate and precious riches.
(Dr. Subhash S. Markande, Consulting Ayurveda Physician, CGH Earth Wellness )
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