Hum a little tune and help your body rest!

[Excerpt from my book
Restful Insomnia:  How to Get the Benefits of Sleep, Even When You Can’t]

I started humming in Restful Insomnia after a yoga class, where we said a few oms as we sat in a meditation. I’d never chanted before; it had always seemed too much in the realm of monks in orange robes.

I found I liked it. It kept my mind from wandering: I noticed my body and each breath.

During that sleepless night, with a wildly adventurous mind, I thought of chanting to connect with my body. So I hummed with each exhale.

Try it. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

You can feel the vibrations in your lungs and throat, and you can hear the subtle sound coming from your nose. Send the hum around your body in your imagination. Are your shoulders tense? Let the vibration loosen the muscles. Do your feet feel numb? Let the hum enliven them.

At night, to connect to your body; let the hum reflect different energy—the excitement in the ribs might be hm-hm-hm-hm. If you feel sadness in your eyes, your humming might feel lower in pitch; tension in the neck might have a grumble.

– – – – –

Current research: Recent scientific news about humming shows that as you hum, your body and brain move into a different mode. Humming changes how you use your brain, including soothing your vagus nerve.

All of which allows you to move into deep rest at night. And open the door to sleep.

And you can always try a few holiday carols or songs as well!

Wishing you joyful holidays and restful nights,

Sondra

P.S. A great last minute gift for someone who can’t sleep, check out: Renewing in Chaos: Finding Rest in Turbulent Times. 

Resources: https://neurosculptinginstitute.com/hum-into-health/