Ringing
in the New Year signals the end of the holidays, but often the
lingering stress from the season-long frenzy leaves us with an
unfortunate side effect — insomnia. And this "tired-wired"
state is quickly becoming a problem in today’s fast-paced culture.
"Insomnia has become an epidemic in our society mainly do to
stress," says Dr. Kalpana "Rose" Kumar, founder and
medical director of The Ommani Center in Pewaukee.
According to
Kumar, we create a vicious cycle within ourselves by creating adrenal
fatigue, which causes lack of sleep. In turn, that lack of sleep leads
to adrenal fatigue. But training our minds can be one way to combat
the problem through a technique called Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction, a meditative practice that helps a person not get caught up
in the cause of stress. "It helps us connect to a more grounded
place inside ourselves," she says.
The technique is
taught through a series of classes in which the student learns how to
focus inward as his or her mind continues to chatter. "If you
learn how to do it, you can apply it to so many aspects of your
life," she says. "It’s incredibly helpful for insomnia,
overeating, anxiety and depression — any kind of emotional struggles
people have."
A hormone
imbalance is also a common cause of insomnia for women, notes Kumar,
who specializes in women’s health. She suggests women suffering from
an imbalance should consult their physicians to regulate it.
The Ommani
Center will be hosting a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction workshop
Jan. 17. Visit www.ommanicenter.com
for more information.
|
 Braced
for sleep
Since Oprah Winfrey
chose Philip Stein watches as one of her favorite things, the
company has become a leader in watches and other lifestyle
products worldwide. One of its latest designs is the Sleep
Bracelet, which contains a metal disk infused with a combination
of natural frequencies that are believed to communicate with the
frequencies in our body, allowing for a more restful sleep. The
new Sleep Bracelet can be found at Lyle Husar Designs in
Brookfield. |
|
Improve
Your Sleep Cycle
Dr.
Kalpana Kumar, founder and medical director of The Ommani Center
in Pewaukee, suggests incorporating the following tips into your
daily routine to help overcome insomnia issues.
1. Watch
Your Diet. A plant-based diet is more grounding and relaxing for
our body which, in turn, will help you sleep better. Avoid
eating a large meal at night that is high in fat and sugar.
2. Take
Omega 3 Fish Oil. Consumed in doses of 2,000 milligrams a day,
fish oil has a relaxing effect on the brain and can help
normalize the brain patterns that otherwise may be irritable and
hyperactive from lack of Omega 3 in your diet.
3. The
sedating effects of lavender have proven helpful for people with
insomnia. "We carry a lavender supplement that has been
show in studies to equal the sleep efficiency of Ambien without
the side effects."
4. Similar
to a child falling asleep to a bedtime story, listening to a CD
specifically designed to help you enter a relaxed state can
help. Some CDs may include soothing sounds, while others include
guided imagery meditation. |
