I have been battling primary insomnia for the last number of years. The biggest issue I have is not staying asleep, but getting there. I can be dead on my feet tired and when my head hits the pillow, my mind just starts up on a life of it's own. I have so many racing thoughts that it can regularly take me at least an hour to fall asleep, sometimes as much as 3 hours. Do you recommend any particular meditations and/or pose sequences that may help with this problem?

I will be keeping a close eye on your post as I have the same problem coupled with the fact that I wake up at 3:00 almost every night. Good luck

Hi YogaDave,

I've answered this same question in an earlier post at: http://www.yogabasics.com/yoga-chit-chat/272-insomnia-problems.html

Hello John!
I'm sure that Timothy and some of the other practitioners here have a lot more specific experience and knowledge than I do, but for the sake of discussion I thought I'd reply.
Do you currently practice yoga? Or are you considering yoga while looking for a strategy to cope with insomnia?
Most people I've spoken to about yoga agree that yoga is invigorating, giving energy. I can't exactly disagree with that statement, but as my own practice develops - with much waxing and waning - I find it often knocks me back like a sedative. I like practicing the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga - and I mean 'practice' in the typical sense of the word; I generally skip about half of it and go to shavasana, where I can experience a truly rare empty mind if I've fully explored the limit of my physical strength. For me the key is the exploration - finding my limit, and working within it.