Cyclic Rest

Cyclic rest refers not just to sleep, but to sleep which is cyclic. Just as we change and affect our environments, environmental conditions and circadian rhythms of the earth change and affect its inhabitants. Earth cycles promote and regulate the life cycles, as well as biological, physiological and other bodily functions (including brain wave activity, hormone production and regulation, body temperature regulation and cell regeneration) of every living being on earth. One of the most important circadian rhythms we are affected by is the 24-hour cycle of day and night, darkness and light.

Benefits of Cyclic Rest

Aligning sleep wake cycles with the circadian rhythms of the earth (i.e., sleeping only at night when it is dark, and being awake during the day when light) helps prevent fatigue, insomnia, sleep disorders, hormonal imbalances, bipolar and other mental disorders. Cyclic rest and relaxation also strengthens the immune system, improves memory and learning capacity, helps to regulate blood sugar, speeds healing and helps the heart beat more efficiently. Digestive secretions, calcium absorption, the rate of detoxification, production and regulation of body chemicals including noradrenaline/norepinephrine, melatonin and serotonin are increased, while stress, oxygen requirements, blood pressure and the heart rate are reduced by cyclic rest.

Sleep Cycle Re-Alignment

Children require about 10-12 hours of sleep each night, while adults need only 8-10 hours. If the sleep-wake cycle is not already in balance, realignment will likely take several days or more to get used to. Difficulties in waking up or insomnia at night are common during this time, although meditation, progressive relaxation or other methods may help. Of the many forms of meditation, most involve some method of relaxation, contemplation, sometimes concentration or breath awareness exercises. Progressive relaxation involves flexing one muscle at a time from the top down for 1-3 seconds, then relaxing them, which is repeated 2-3 times or until a deep state of relaxation is achieved. If none of this helps then natural sedatives may be used, but regular use should be restricted to no more than two weeks.