Full-disclosure: the folks at Casper, a new sleep startup, invited me to create a bed-time yoga sequence and post it on my blog, and then they might pick some poses to put on their blog. Well who am I to refuse a chance to be on the internet? (Like, more than I am now.) Or to be involved in a hip Manhattan start-up? Their blog is pretty cool - it's about all things sleep-related. It's total synchronicity - cuz I LOVE sleeping!
So how do I use yoga to help me sleep? Here are seven poses that help me relax before bed time. Try them all or pick and choose - happy sleeping!
First up: namaste forward fold!
So how do I use yoga to help me sleep? Here are seven poses that help me relax before bed time. Try them all or pick and choose - happy sleeping!
First up: namaste forward fold!

Stand with your right foot in front of your left, hug your belly in, and gently fold over your right leg. Relax your head and let your fingertips touch the floor. Take slow deep breaths in and out of your nose. Do one side for five breaths, then switch to the other side. I love the hamstring stretch I get in this pose!

Come down to the floor for floating fish! Put your hands under your low back and press up onto your forearms, letting your head drop back. Float your legs up and point your toes. Breathe deep and enjoy this gentle back bend.

Who needs traction? Pretty much everyone. Bring ease to your neck with this head hammock! Loop a strap around your head and one foot, and relax back into it. I love this pose after a long day at the office.

Are you getting sleepy yet? Create rotation in your spine with supine twist. Start by lying on your back, and pull both knees to your chest. Extend your right arm too the right and drop your knees to the left. Keep both shoulders on the floor and look over your right shoulder. I could stay in this pose forever - make sure you do both sides though!

Try this variation on frog pose if you have tight hips. Lie on your stomach, extend your arms wide, and bend one knee. Take a few breaths on one side and switch to the other.

Finish with five to ten minutes of legs up the wall pose. Lie down with your hips about five inches away from the wall, and extend your legs up, resting them on the wall. This pose puts your spine into perfect alignment, is a great restorative pose for athletes, and is a very gentle inversion - so you can get all the great benefits of going upside down without messing up your sleep. Aaah!