My pleasure @lisalucier !
When my smartwatch shows I didn't get enough deep sleep, I often take my morning medication and return to bed for a 30-minute yoga nidra practice, which can provide the restorative benefits of up to 3 hours of deep sleep. Yoga nidra is wonderfully simple – you just have to lie on your back and listen to guidance while focusing on different parts of your body. This practice gives me deep relaxation and leaves me feeling energized afterward. On those days, I usually also take a good nap after lunch.
When I notice my stress levels rising on my watch, I stop what I'm doing and either practice yoga nidra or do some yoga breathing exercises to calm myself down. Exercise is also fantastic for stress relief! However, when I don't have someone with me and feel uncertain about my seizure control, I prefer staying home with practices I can do safely there rather than going out to exercise.
Lisa, as you know by now, I'm a big fan of yoga. But this is certainly not the only way to manage stress, find relaxation, and compensate for insufficient deep sleep – everyone finds their effective methods that work best for them. If anyone is curious about yoga nidra or would like to know more about my preferred practices, I'm happy to share more details.
I'd love to hear from other members about their strategies for managing seizure triggers. What precautions or techniques work best for you?
Thank you!
Chris