Prepare your body and mind for restful sleep with these 4 relaxing yoga poses.

After a long day, sometimes all you want is a good night’s sleep – but it can be hard to wind down enough to fall asleep, especially if you have a lot on your mind. Yoga is a great way to help your body and mind relax in preparation for bedtime. Yoga helps you to focus inward and be mindful of the present moment, letting the cares and the worries of the day slip away. It also helps to stretch and relax tense muscles, allowing better blood flow and promoting healing throughout your body as you rest during the night.

The 4 poses below can help you to relax your body and mind and drift away into dreamland – regardless how busy or stressful your day was. Just do each pose for a minute or two before bed, and you’ll be feeling peaceful and relaxed in no time!

1.) Child’s Pose

This gentle pose warms up the body for the relaxation poses to come. Start by sitting on top of your bent knees. Stretch your arms upward, lifting up your torso and slowly lowering it to the mat below…while simultaneously stretching forward with your arms. The result will be a deep lengthening of the spine and stretch in the arms.

2.) Legs up the Wall Inversion

Start by lying on your back facing a wall. Bring your legs straight up and let your heels rest on the wall. Let your arms come out to your sides, palms up and breathe deeply into the stretch in your hamstrings… This inversion pose drains the blood from the lower body and brings the mind to a peaceful state.

3.) Goddess Stretch

Lie flat on your back and turn your legs outward, bending at the knee. Bring the soles of your feet to touching and let your hands lie still on either side of you. Breathe slowly and deeply and let your thighs relax.

4.) Corpse Pose

This is the best way to end your nighttime yoga routine because it so closely mimics sleep. Lie on your back with your legs straight and your hands gently resting on either side with palms facing up: Pay attention to your breath. Pay attention to any discomfort…and adjust accordingly…

Read more at Yoga.com…