RESTING THE MIND Our society has people working all hours, at a fast pace. There is often a lot of multitasking, and stress is usually high. By the end of the day the mind is full of thousands of different thoughts and processes, ideas or concerns. A mind that is reeling, and still in motion hinders a more restful, regenerative, recharging sleep. There are a number of rituals be- fore sleep to help rest the mind. These include prayer, journaling, visualization, breath work, yoga, and meditation. All of these things help to still or calm the mind. Thoughts will still appear, but with less impact of arousing the mind. SLEEP SURFACE: THE FOUNDATION Like most warm blooded animals, we need to lie down when we sleep because of the extremely relaxed state of our mus- cles during REM sleep. If we fall asleep as a passenger in the car, in a chair or on a couch, our muscles can cramp up or joints stiffen when in unhealthy positions for prolonged periods. For optimal rest, re- generation and recharging, we need to be stretched out on a comfortable supportive sleep surface. The quality of our sleep will improve. There are many components to choosing the best sleep surface. Pressure Relief – The right sleep sur- face should conform to your posture and weight. A firm mattress isn’t always best. An overly fi rm mattress will cut off blood fl ow and put excess pressure on joints, making you uncomfortable. Proper Alignment – Your head, shoul- ders, hips and mid-ankles need to be in line for optimal rest, regeneration and re- charging. That is because this posture al- lows for optimal nerve function. If you’re sleeping on the wrong mattress, or on a bed that is the wrong fi rmness, poor pos- tural support will result in the same stiff- ness and cramping as sleeping in the car, and possible nerve pressure. Gone are the days when it was believed that a firm mattress was the healthiest. A mattress that is too hard creates pressure points because it does not conform to the spine and its healthy curves. A mattress that is too soft, on the other hand, cre- ates a hammock effect where the healthy spinal curves are lost in the cushiness. A new emerging technology is a custom- ized sleep surface that is personalized for spinal health, comfort and weight. It is a layered system using better quality www.canadianchiropractor.ca Some products cover up muscle pain. Traumeel® works deep down to treat the cause. Available in an odorless cream or gel, Traumeel is a natural product that is convenient for the entire family. Scientifically proven, Traumeel works directly at the root of your muscle pain, backaches, and sports and repetitive stress injuries, to accelerate the healing process. Draw the line on pain. For a free Traumeel sample or for more information, contact us at 1888 879-4335 or at [email protected] www.heel.ca Sold in 50 countries for over 70 years Another great innovation from CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | SEPTEMBER 2009 • 39
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