Sleep didn’t use to come easy for me before I was introduced to the world of online meditation. My mind was always racing through the lists of to-dos, looming deadlines, or just anxieties about work and life.
Then I found meditation classes on Insight Timer, as well as on other free apps and YouTube videos. These free meditation classes are readily accessible on my phone and have changed my sleeping patterns. While I still get hit by periods of insomnia, they are less frequent and intense than before I started with sleep meditation.
Related: 7 Best Free Meditation Apps in 2019 Tried and Reviewed
If you are someone who suffers from an overactive mind, anxiety or stress, then this post is for you. Insomnia can be stopped, you simply need to know how to get your mind in the right mode and sleep naturally happens.
Today, I will share some of my favourite sleep meditation classes (most of them are free) that I play on a nightly basis to help me get to sleep quickly. Most of these are longer classes above 20 minutes because they ensure that I will be asleep before the end of the class (if I’m still awake by the end, I will definitely stress out and have to restart my sleep preparation).
As an ex-insomniac, the below ‘fall asleep fast’ meditation classes have become my lullaby and sleeping pills. I love them for what they do to my sleep quality and length, and hopefully, you can also get relief from sleep deprivation with them.
7 Free and Effective Meditation to Help You Sleep Quickly
Deep Sleep Meditation with Affirmations: Self Love, Patience, Detachment & Fulfilment
App: Insight Timer Meditation App
Type: Guided Sleep Meditation
Length: 102 minutes (30-second sample audio)
Instructor: Kenneth Soares
Overview:
This is one of my most played sleep meditation classes for two reasons:
- I believe that the sub-conscious mind absorbs positive affirmations while I am sleeping to change my mind and life for the better
- Kenneth Soares’ voice strikes the right balance between relaxing yet affirmative. I sleep like a baby less than 10 minutes into any of Kenneth Soares’ sleep meditation affirmation classes
Like many of Kenneth Soares sleep affirmation classes, this is a slower-paced class that first sets you up for sleep through visualization relaxation techniques and healing music. Kenneth then injects positive affirmations of self-love and courage to accept the challenges of life and meet your next day with acceptance and wisdom.
For those of you who believe in the law of attraction, I would suggest you look beyond this class and explore more of Kenneth’s other classes. I’ve gone through many of his courses (this is only available on the premium subscription) and can see visible improvements in how I sleep and my mood/emotions when I wake up.
Please note that to listen to this meditation class, you would need to download the insight timer meditation app, available for FREE – here
Calming Sleep Music with Jason Stephenson
App: YouTube
Type: Sleep Music
Length: 10 Hours
Instructor: Jason Stephenson
Overview:
Jason Stephenson is one of the better-known leaders in meditation and relaxation music for more than a decade. I found him through this video – his YouTube channel ‘Sleep Meditation Music’ is a great resource of free sleep meditation music. It’s no wonder the channel has grown massively to more than 1.4M subscribers at the time of writing.
This 10-hour long audio (yes 10 hours) is really calming for the nerves. You can play this as part of your wind-down routine or even during work when you are in need of some anti-anxiety remedies.
Access this meditation here.
Rhythms of Sleep: Music for Deep Rest
App: Spotify
Type: Soundscape for Sleep
Length: 60 minute
Instructor: Christopher of the Wolves
Overview:
Percussive music creates a soothing environment in which we can be better centred, calm down and relax. Rhythms of Sleep uses the percussion instrument, Pantheon Hapo Handpan, to create soothing, beautiful tones that ease your mind and body in preparation for sleep. These healing sleep tones provide the most serene recording yet by Christopher.
Play this meditation before you sleep or when you need quiet focus and concentration.
Access this meditation here.
Letting Go Before Sleep (Guided Meditation)
App: Spotify
Type: Guided Sleep Meditation
Length: 22 minutes
Instructor: Jason Stephenson
Overview:
This is yet another Jason Stephenson audio, albeit a guided meditation rather than music. There’s actually no background music during this meditation. Instead, Jason uses a foundational relaxation technique to focus on each body part and consciously relax it.
Access this meditation here. It is part of a longer playlist on Spotify, which I would encourage you to explore as well if you need a longer meditation session.
Healing Darkness for Sleep – Yoga Nidra
App: Insight Timer Meditation App
Type: Yoga Nidra
Length: 30 minutes (30 Second Sample Audio)
Instructor: Jennifer Piercy
Overview:
This was my very first Yoga Nidra class and I don’t recall ever listening to the full meditation because I fall asleep way too quickly. Although it’s been a while, I still come to this Yoga Nidra class whenever I am suffering from a more intense bout of insomnia or sleep deprivation.
For those of you who are new to Yoga Nidra, this is known as yogic sleep. It is a meditation and deep relaxation technique that induces complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. Feel your heartbeat and breathing slow down, your mind and body calm down during this Yoga Nidra class.
This class is great for people seeking to reset your mind and body and calm down for a restful night.
Please note that to listen to this meditation class, you would need to download the insight timer meditation app, available for FREE – here
Theta Healing Sleep with Guenther Georg
App: Insight Timer Meditation App
Type: Brainwave Music for sleeping
Length: 30 minutes (30 Second Sample Audio)
Instructor: Guenther Georg
Overview:
This meditation is beautiful and calming. It uses “Natural sounds and binaural beats to encourage theta and delta brain waves for deeper relaxation and sleep”.
In simple terms, Delta brainwaves are slow and loud brainwaves (like a drum beat) generated in deepest meditation and dreamless sleep. It is in this state that healing is stimulated. Theta brainwaves are of a slightly higher frequency than delta brainwaves and occur in deep relaxation and non-REM sleep. During this time, you drift in and out of sleep and you are in a state of dreaminess.
Listen to this meditation to wind down, heal your mind and body, and fall asleep quickly.
Please note that to listen to this meditation class, you would need to download the insight timer meditation app, available for FREE – here
Fall Asleep Fast, Deeply and Soundly Guided ASMR Sleep Meditation
App: YouTube
Type: ASMR Guided Sleep Meditation
Length: 1 Hour 30 Minute
Instructor: Lauren Ostrowski Fenton
Overview:
This meditation is ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response)-based, meaning that you will hear all the mouth sounds made by the instructor during the meditation. ASMR may not be for everyone, you either love or hate it. I happen to fall into the ‘love’ boat and this class has put me to sleep many times when I found myself tossing and turning.
Lauren uses visualization techniques to help you visit relaxing landscapes virtually and takes your mind away from your current woes. ASMR sounds help you relax and slows down your mind from hyperactivity.
Access this meditation here.
These sleep meditation classes have had a profound impact on how I think of sleep. Even if I get hit by periods of insomnia, my experience with sleep has improved so much with sleep meditation that I know it is something achievable given the right environment and mental activity.
Why not try starting a bedtime routine using the sleep meditation classes above? Let me know your experience with these sleep meditation classes and which is your favourite!
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The YogaMad is founded by Mila, an avid yogini who is passionate about inspiring others to live their best lives while finding mind-body-soul balance. She has a background in business consulting but has left the corporate world in her quest to live out her dreams as a yoga nomad.
Such a nice calm relaxing blog