Relying on natural light and darkness can improve your sleep at night and your energy during the day.

Rebecca Tolin, in her article for Mother Nature Network, shares some Maharishi AyurVeda® (MAV) tips she learned from Mark Bunn, an MAV practitioner and author of Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health. He recommends:

• Calming activities, like reading and light conversation, from 7:00 p.m. onward to help you transition to a restful night. Watching the sunset can also bring inner quiet.
• Getting a good night’s sleep, especially between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., which aids digestion, healing, and rejuvenation.
• Getting up by sunrise, going for an early-morning walk, and practicing yoga asanas and TM to start your day.
• Enjoying some mid-day sun.

“Natural light and darkness regulate our sleep-wake cycle, endocrine system, hormones, and the neurochemistry of happiness.” —Mark Bunn, Maharishi AyurVeda practitioner

Aligning with the Sun
Tolin explains the benefits of these routines: “As you align with the sun, you’ll likely get sleepier in the evening and more alert in the morning. After a few weeks of experimentation, this lifetime night owl is proof positive it’s possible. I’m actually waking up at sunrise without the alarm clock (okay, not long after sunrise) and heading out to watch its rays ascend through the trees. ‘Natural light and darkness regulate our sleep-wake cycle, endocrine system, hormones, and the neurochemistry of happiness,’ Bunn says. And who doesn’t want that?”