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The Yoga Bed Challenge – Night 1:

Night one was rough. Even as I laid down on my mat to go to sleep I could tell it was going to be good for me. Just laying on my back I could literally feel things resting, well, more like straining themselves into proper alignment. This of course continued throughout the entire night.

I definitely did not sleep through the night on the first go. I had muscle pain in my back that felt like I was being pulled from opposite ends and stretched out like a stiff, reluctant elastic band. It honestly felt as though I might wake up paralysed. Full disclosure, I do have scoliosis so this probably contributed a lot to the amount of pain I was experiencing.

When I finally rolled on to my side in the morning, boy did it hurt! I did some serious yoga the day before and my lats were killing me – it was all I could feel sleeping on my side. Had I been in my soft cushiony bed, I know I wouldn’t have felt a thing!

Waking up was the best part. I rolled right into child’s pose and eased myself into downward dog. Not only was it a relaxing way to wake up, I literally felt 2 years younger! I had to do a few more stretches to be sure, but it was true! No neck pain, no tight shoulders, and how is it that I hardly got to sleep through the night and I still feel so refreshed and not groggy or heavy?! Yes – despite all the pain, I’ll be doing this again!

Night 2:

My bed is still calling and looks extra comfy, but I want that same muscle release I had the night before. I knew things would be easier tonight after all the pain I went through the night before…at least I hoped!

Again, I couldn’t sleep through the night. Thankfully there was almost no aching pain. Do our bodies really adjust to this kind of thing so fast? Even side sleeping was easier tonight, but still not a comfortable thing. Was my lat pain completely gone because of the night before? Maybe! They say that sleeping on a hard surface is like getting a gentle massage throughout the night. Not the most enjoyable one, but you certainly feel refreshed in the morning!

I woke up feeling lighter and younger again. No usual neck stiffness, and my posture even seems to be getting better too.

Night 3:

I’m starting to enjoy the routine of rolling my mat out at night and doing a few releasing stretches before laying down to sleep. It usually takes about 5 minutes to settle in as I feel my back release from the pressure of being upright all day. I tried putting a pillow under my thighs to release any lower back pressure which feels great.

If you are looking for a good yoga class before bed here are a few of our favourites!

Yoga With Adriene: https://yogawithadriene.com/yoga-for-bedtime/

Yoga With Kassandra:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdMdqZ6slpM

Silke Dewulf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iUCuwb9Mvo

I was unable to sleep through the night again, but suffered no grogginess from of lack of sleep in the morning. Sleeping on my side still isn’t comfortable and I’ve mostly been avoiding it. I guess it’s a good way to get used to sleeping on your back…

This morning I noticed an interesting aspect of gratitude that I wasn’t expecting from all of this. Simplifying life by just sleeping on the floor has brought about some serious self-reflection. What else in my life is just extra cushion? What else do I feel I “need” that is really just a mental construction?

Night 4 of the Yoga Bed Challenge:

The adjustment has been fast – I am already craving my mat before bed. I Finally slept through the night and it felt amazing! In the morning I did a few gentle stretches.

Juliana | Boho Beautiful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX6I6vs1EFs

Cat Meffan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFw7wOqLJO0

Sarah Beth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaoV1PrYft4

My back, which usually has one side that is tenser than the other due to scoliosis, was so relaxed. I realized that both sides of my back felt equal, which doesn’t even happen after hour-long massages. I couldn’t believe it. I checked in the mirror and my back, unbelievably, looked like there was almost no issue with my spine. I’m not going to get ahead of myself and say that my scoliosis is cured, but I can certainly feel a difference in back muscle tension which I have been living with since developing scoliosis at age 16.

Night 5:

Night five of the yoga bed challenge and my boyfriend is getting worried I’m never going to sleep in a bed again. I’ve suggested snuggling on the floor…but he’s just not into it. I don’t think I’ll be able to talk him into this one…

I was able to sleep through the night again.

Another benefit I’ve been noticing with this challenge is the ease of ‘getting out of bed’ or more like “getting off the mat” in the morning. Without the added cushion of a bed it seems to be much easier to get up in the morning, not being tempted and usually persuaded by the soft mattress to stay in bed, hit snooze, just 5 more minutes, maybe just another 5 more minutes…

Night 6:

Side sleeping was successful! It took 6 nights but it’s not uncomfortable to sleep on my side anymore. I still find myself sleeping on my back most of the night because it feels so much more releasing.

Night 7:

The last night is here and had I not been keeping track I probably wouldn’t even realize that 7 nights have already passed. I am now fully comfortable sleeping on a yoga mat and am so happy that I committed to and completed my 7-day challenge.

After the 7 nights passed I decided to sleep in my bed again. I was certainly aware of the lack of support my bed provided and felt my body naturally trying to stay properly aligned. I felt my abs working to hold my spine in alignment rather than letting my bed cradle whatever position I was in. I’ve decided that I will be sleeping in my bed again but will take at least a few nights a month to realign whenever I start feeling stiff or achy.