Sleep Your Way to Health and Healing

How did you sleep last night? If you were to tell me you slept like a baby, that would mean you tossed, turned, peed and poo’d your diaper during the night. Seriously, do you feel you slept well?

For the mind and body to function properly our bodies require adequate sleep. Lack of proper sleep means we may experience brain fog, lack of clarity, limited focus, lethargy, dis-ease, rapid aging and low sex drive. Low sex drive?! Even more reason to get your precious zzz’s!

In my experience, many folks are burning the candle at both ends with late nights and early mornings. As a nation, we seem pretty stressed out and frazzled. I suggest you consider your sleep patterns and ask what they mean for you. If you are waking up dead tired and need a strong cup of “Joe” to jump start your day, perhaps you are not sleeping enough? It could be you are slowly breaking your body down and heading towards dis-ease.

Poor snooze patterns mean more health problems. In addition, disrupted sleep equates to unbalanced hormonal levels. With high cortisol hormone levels the sympathetic nervous system is constantly in a state of flight or fight mode — liken to being chased by a tiger.

I trust that if I were being chased by a tiger I would experience high stress levels and anxiety. There is no rest from enduring high levels of stress and anxiety. So, adequate sleep means better-regulated hormonal patterns and with better sleep, comes a feeling of well-being.

Circadian rhythm refers to the “body clock” and this sleep rhythm informs the body when it is time to sleep and when it’s time to rise. During the Circadian rhythm, our bodies are meant to heal — physically and psychologically.

We should sleep throughout the hours of 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. Sleep occurring between the hours 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. heals our physical body and between the hours of 2 a.m. – 6 a.m., our body promotes psychological repair. Sleep, controlled by the central nervous system, is a biological process. The necessity of proper sleep is imperative for good health and well-being.

Indigenous tribes are some of the healthiest groups on the planet. I doubt they need an alarm clock to awaken and begin their daily activities. Without artificial lights they go to sleep soon after dark and awaken when the sun comes up … naturally.

For me, after experiencing a proper night’s sleep, I arise with powerful natural energy, a song in my heart and look to greet the day with enthusiasm and joy.

I trust you understand the importance of a good night’s sleep. But if you remain curious and have questions as to how to adapt better sleeping habits, contact a trained holistic health and wellness professional to guide you into better sleep and better health.

Sleep well and sweet dreams!

Patricia Garza Pinto is a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach and CHEK Corrective Exercise Coach certified by San Diego’s Paul Chek—a holistic health practitioner, neuromuscular therapist and founder of the C.H.E.K (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology) Institute.  Patricia is also a second-degree Reiki Practitioner who has obtained additional personal training certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise.  Exemplifying  35 years of fitness and health experience, Patricia approaches wellness from many perspectives integrating them into a unified whole. Learn more by visiting TransforMotion.com where Patricia guides her clientele through their respective journeys of authentic self-discovery. (Visit the website or call 949-422-1168.)