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november/december 2017yogajournal.com.audonate it to charity, or sell it. Next, tidy
everything you have. There are dozens
of smart storage solutions available,
from drawers under the bed to vacuum
bags for out-of-season clothes and
bedding. Make sure to keep it that way
by creating space in your daily routine
for picking up items and making your
bed. It doesn’t have to be stark and
minimalist — having a few favourite
ornaments is both aesthetically
pleasing and a mood-enhancing choice.
The inclusion of a few, low-maintenance
plants will also purify the air for a more
wholesome sleep environment.- RE-DECORATE
While you’re re-organising, you can also
think about the mood of your bedroom.
It’s widely accepted that light and colour
can energise or calm us, provoke
happiness or sadness, and heal or
irritate us. Consider consulting a chakra
colour chart before repainting your
JUMPING OUTof bed bright-eyed,
bushy-tailed and ready to step onto
your yoga mat is much easier after
a good night’s sleep. Implement
these simple changes to improve the
quality of your sleeping space, and
hence the quality of your sleep.Sweet dreams!
- DE-CLUTTER
An untidy environment can be
frustrating to live or work in, and it’s
the same for sleep. We all know how
hard it is to drop off when you have
annoying thoughts running through
your head. To reverse it, a clear living
space promotes a clear head space —
so get organised. First, go through
everything you keep in your bedroom:
clothes, furniture, everything. If it
doesn’t need to be there, or if you don’t
need it at all, move it: give itaway,
DREAMon
By Phoebe Yu
bedroom. The blue of the throat chakra,
for example, soothes the soul and can
aid in achieving a restful state, ready for
sleep. Check that your curtains block
as much light as possible, as this affects
your natural rhythm of sleep.- ENSURE GOOD QUALITY
BEDDING THAT CHANGES
WITH THE SEASONS
Considering you spend almost a third
of your life in bed, it’s worth taking the
time to consider your bedding choices.
There is a range of comfortable, affordable
and sustainable options available,
including French flax linen, Egyptian
cotton and bamboo lyocell. Ensure that
you change your bedding with the seasons,
as temperature affects sleep quality.
Aim for the cool side of comfortable –
when you start to fall asleep, your body
temperature drops, so emulating this
can encourage sleepiness.
Follow these 5 steps and create the perfect Zen Den for a good night’s sleep.
PHOTOS: DARIA MINAEVA;NENAD AKSIC;AMEHIME; DIRIMA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM