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How to use yoga to sleep better during the pandemic

2020-08-31T14:01:01

(BPT) – Whether due to illness, altered work schedules, homeschooling or social distancing, COVID-19 has impacted us all personally. Stress levels are high, and the resulting anxiety makes it much harder to get a good night’s rest. Despite the efforts of the $70 billion sleep-aid industry, many exhausted people are still searching for ways to get the sleep they need to keep their immune systems strong.

Unfortunately, sleeping pills are the dominant treatment strategy for insomnia. Sleeping pills don’t work for everyone, have side effects and do not address the underlying stress that is keeping you awake. That’s why medical experts are increasingly advising those struggling with poor sleep to first try more natural solutions. Kundalini Yoga is one viable option. Through the practice of kriyas, specific breath control techniques and exercises, anyone can find the fulfilling rest they need.

These Kundalini Yoga techniques can help if you have recently begun to suffer from poor sleep or you struggle with an ongoing sleep disorder. According to “Yoga Can Help With Insomnia” by Psychology Today, “Researchers at Harvard Medical School investigated how a daily yoga practice might affect sleep for people with insomnia and found broad improvements to measurements of sleep quality and quantity.”

The importance of sleep hygiene

First, it’s critical to maintain good sleep hygiene. These are the habits that put you in the best position to have a full night of quality sleep. Signs your sleep could use improvement include taking too long to fall asleep, waking multiple times with difficulty falling back asleep, overall light and restless sleep, and drowsiness during the day.

While each person must adopt consistent sleep hygiene practices that work for them, here are some guidelines that you can follow to sleep better.

  • Avoid bright screens and stimulants like caffeine, alcohol or nicotine close to bedtime.
  • Exercise during the day so the body is ready to rest later. Be mindful of timing; exercising too late in the day can disrupt sleep.
  • A light snack is OK, but avoid heavy meals or spicy food before bed.
  • Drink a glass of water before sleep since dehydration can disturb the sleeping mind. Waking up to use the bathroom is less disruptive to a whole night’s sleep than dehydration.
  • Practice a restful activity before getting into bed. For example, do gentle yoga and slow breathing exercises, read a book, pray or meditate.
  • If your nighttime sleep is poor, avoid napping during the daytime.

Yogic recommendations: Steps to deep, dreamless sleep

The 3HO Foundation recommends using these Kundalini Yoga techniques to quickly achieve deep sleep in just a few minutes:

Step 1: A busy mind has difficulty sleeping. Quiet your thoughts by first visualizing all your worries, ideas and problems, wrapping them up in a package, then placing that package on a shelf in your mind. You’ll be amazed at how many are gone, solved or improved by the time you wake up.

Step 2: Lie on your stomach, turn your head so your right cheek is on the pillow. This automatically opens your left nostril to bring in cooling, calming energy. Practice long, deep breathing in this position. Then block your right nostril completely with your hand and continue long, deep breathing through the left nostril.

Step 3: Once you feel drowsy, turn to your preferred sleeping position on your back or side. Continue long, deep breathing until asleep.

Sleep is always an important component to health and wellness. During stressful times, quality sleep is difficult to achieve. These steps will help you refine your sleep routine and discover better rest. To learn more, visit kundaliniresearchinstitute.org.


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How to shop and make money online during a pandemic

2020-08-31T08:01:00

(BPT) – Canceled plans. Working from home. Financial stress. It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing massive disruptions in many lives. Each day, people are getting more and more creative in discovering ways to stay productive and hold on to a sense of normalcy.

Online marketplaces have seen a major increase in activity over the last six months as some scramble to outfit their home office or home gym with the necessities — while others are cleaning the house and selling things they don’t use. Some are even supplementing their income by selling popular at-home items. Whether you’re offering a bargain or hunting for one, here are the tips you need to be successful by selling things online.

Sell what people are looking for

As items sell out on online stores, there’s an opportunity to make money by selling rare items locally. Home office items like desks and office supplies, including printers, tablets and webcams, are selling at higher prices than normal. Kids supplies like backpacks and laptops are also commanding higher interest. You can search for your item online to see what popular prices are before you sell it to maximize your profit.

Establish credibility

Whether you’re buying or selling, there are few ways to make yourself stand out as credible. On the OfferUp & letgo marketplace, potential buyers and sellers can click on your profile to view your ratings, profile badges and response rates. The more complete your profile, the more trustworthy your account appears. If you’re new, it may take some time to build up your reputation.

Beware of super-low prices

Watch out for potential red flags if you’re buying. If a price seems too good to be true — such as a $20 diamond ring or a $100 brand-new phone — it likely is. Before you make an offer or commit to buying, check prices of similar items and make sure you’re able to see several photos of the item.

Check shipping before you buy

Stay safe during the pandemic by choosing to ship your bought or sold items. OfferUp & letgo offers every buyer and seller access to nationwide shipping. When buyers see an item they like, they can choose to receive the item by mail, make their offer and pay through the app. Sellers receive a pre-paid shipping label and both parties can track the shipping process

Meet in a public location

If a meet-up is necessary, opt for a well-lit public location with video surveillance — and remember to keep a safe, social distance. OfferUp has created more than 2,000 public community meet-up spots so everyone involved in the transaction can feel safe and know exactly where to meet. Simply search on www.safetradespots.com for a mutual location that works for you.

Online marketplaces can be a valuable resource for procuring your buying and selling needs — and helping others find theirs. Download the OfferUp app for more tips on being a successful buyer or seller.


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Keep all kids safer by following these water safety tips

2020-08-31T12:01:00

(BPT) – It might be heading toward the end of summer, but the weather is still warm around the country, and swimming to enjoy continued fun in the sun remains a warm-weather ritual that families love. Whether you’re at a lake, beach — or this season in particular, due to the COVID-19 restrictions — your own backyard pool, learning how to keep kids safer around water is an important responsibility for any parent or caregiver.

Because drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages one to four years old and the second leading cause of unintentional death for kids ages five to 14 years old, it is vital for anyone caring for children to know what they can do to help prevent drowning incidents. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Pool Safely campaign, an average of 379 children drown in pools and spas each year.

Unfortunately, child drowning rates are higher among minority populations, particularly African American and Hispanic children. Data from Pool Safely’s longtime collaborator the USA Swimming Foundation reveals that 64 percent of African American children have no or low swimming ability — and that 65 percent of these children would like to swim more than they currently do.

In addition, a recent documentary titled “A Film Called Blacks Can’t Swim” challenges stereotypes about Black communities and swimming. Filmmaker Ed Accura explored his own experience around swimming to uncover the cultural, social and financial reasons why many Black adults never learn to swim.

“I have been hiding behind the stereotype and myth that ‘Black people can’t swim’ for most of my life, because it was easier to do so than to learn how to swim,” said Accura. “The turning point for me came when I realized that I could not help my daughter if she was ever in trouble while in or around the water. This thought scared me, and because I knew I wasn’t alone, I decided to learn to swim and share my experience with the world.”

Accura stresses that the key for parents is to familiarize kids with swimming early, so they can get used to being in the water — and have fun learning.

To do this, the CPSC Pool Safely campaign recommends these critical safety tips for all parents and caregivers to follow all year long:

1. Teach children how to swim.

Everyone can learn to swim, even adults who never learned as children. Swimming is not only fun, it’s a crucial lifesaving skill. Enroll children in swimming lessons as early as possible so they can learn basics like how to float, tread water and reach the edge of the pool.

Check online or at community centers for information about free or reduced-cost options available at locations near you, such as the YMCA or your local parks and recreation department.

2. Never leave a child unattended in or near water, even for a moment.

Always watch children around water, including pools, spas, lakes, ponds, fountains, buckets and bathtubs.

  • Designate an official Water Watcher — an adult tasked with supervising the children.
    When groups or families play near water, adults may assume “someone else” is watching the children. An official Water Watcher should do nothing else — they shouldn’t be reading, looking at their phone or texting or otherwise be distracted.
  • Keep a phone nearby to call for help.
  • If a child is missing, check the water first.
  • Don’t assume lifeguards can see everything.
    Even when lifeguards are present, parents and caregivers need to take responsibility for being a designated Water Watcher. When a lifeguard chair is empty, remaining lifeguards may not be able to see the entire pool, and lifeguards in low chairs may have a limited view.

3. Be aware of drain danger.

Teach children not to play or swim near drains or suction outlets, especially in spas and shallow pools. Powerful suction from a pool or spa drain can even trap an adult.

  • Never enter a pool or spa with a loose, broken or missing drain cover. Children’s hair, limbs, jewelry or bathing suits can get stuck in a drain or suction opening.
  • Locate the emergency vacuum shutoff before entering a spa.
  • Ensure pools and spas have federal safety standard compliant drain covers. Virginia Graeme Baker, after whom the Pool and Spa Safety Act is named, died from drowning due to a faulty drain cover. All public pools and spas must have drain grates or covers meeting safety standards.

4. Install or look for barriers, alarms and covers on and around pools or spas.

Whether you visit or own a pool, check for:

  • Fencing at least 4 feet tall, surrounding the pool or spa on all sides, and not climbable for children. Water should only be accessible through a self-closing, self-latching gate.
  • A door alarm from the house to the pool.
  • Pool and spa covers in working order.

5. Learn CPR for adults and children.

Bystanders are often first to aid a drowning victim, so learning CPR can help save a life. Make sure the class you take includes child CPR, which uses different techniques than CPR for adults. Classes are available through many hospitals, community centers or the American Red Cross.

So as the weather stays warm and many Americans continue to swim at home this season, visit www.PoolSafely.gov for more safety tips before getting in or around the water with the kids. And remember to take the Pool Safely Pledge!