45:02

Insomnia Aid

by Andrea Wachter

Rated
4.7
Type
guided
Activity
Meditation
Suitable for
Everyone
Plays
123.4k

If you struggle with insomnia, join Andrea for this relaxing journey. First, we will release the internal pressure to fall asleep, which is often ironically what keeps people awake. Then we will do a relaxing body scan followed by a simple counting practice that can be quite relaxing.

InsomniaRelaxationBody ScanCountingSleepMuscle RelaxationBreathingBreathing AwarenessCounting TechniquesVisualizations

Transcript

Let's begin by making sure you're as comfortable as possible.

See if you need to adjust your position or your pillow or blanket to get yourself even more settled in.

Bring your attention to your breathing and follow a few breaths all the way in and out.

If you'd like to deepen your breath,

You can do that,

Or simply notice your body breathing at its natural pace.

As you exhale,

I'd like you to picture yourself releasing the day,

Exhaling out any thoughts that may be lingering in your mind,

Releasing thoughts as if you're opening a window and airing out a room.

Now is your time to rest and relax.

Oftentimes when we can't sleep,

We feel a sense of pressure about being awake and needing to sleep.

And of course,

Pressure doesn't help.

So I'd like you to picture,

Sense,

Or think of a dial that represents any pressure you might be feeling.

And see yourself turning this pressure dial all the way off.

No pressure here.

This time is about relaxation and rest,

Meditating and resting.

Rest is the sibling of sleep,

And we want to make deep,

Restorative rest the goal here.

Now see if you can sense,

Think of,

Or imagine a dial that represents rest.

And picture turning that dial all the way up,

Making rest your only intention here.

Deep rest.

Peaceful rest.

Now let's bring our attention back to your breathing,

Nice and even.

And as you exhale,

See if you can really give your body full permission to surrender to the surface beneath you.

Really let your body be held by the cushion.

See just how relaxed you can get your body to feel.

Imagine a wave of relaxation from the top of your head all the way down to your feet.

This is your time to let go.

This is your time to be right here,

Right now.

Relaxing and breathing.

If at any time your mind pulls you out of presence,

As soon as you become aware of the thought,

Simply bring yourself back to your breath and your body resting on the surface beneath you.

Allow your body to rest.

Allow your mind to rest.

There's nothing you need to do right now except rest.

With every breath,

Feel your mind getting quieter and your body feeling more and more relaxed.

Think of your whole body becoming more and more relaxed.

Imagine all the muscles in your scalp and forehead softening and letting go.

Allow the muscles around your eyes and your eyelids to soften,

Release,

And relax.

You can even imagine your brain relaxing.

Now allow your cheek muscles and your jaw to soften and release.

And now feel that relaxation move to your mouth and your lips.

Now your neck,

Imagine all the muscles in your neck softening,

Unwinding,

And releasing.

Moving down to your shoulders,

Give your shoulders permission to soften and let go.

And now your arms,

Feel a wave of relaxation from your upper arms down through your forearms and your wrists and into your hands and fingers,

Letting any tension drain right out through your fingertips.

Now moving to your chest,

Feel a wave of calm and relaxation in your chest with every breath.

And now allowing this relaxation to spread into your stomach,

Allowing your stomach area to relax and let go.

Just a gentle rising and sinking with each breath,

Soothing your whole system.

Now moving attention into your back,

Allow all the muscles in your back to soften,

Release,

And relax.

Now moving this wave of relaxation to your legs,

Allow all the muscles in your upper legs to completely let go.

Moving down to your lower legs,

Your ankles,

And your feet.

Allow your feet and your toes to completely relax and release any tension.

Breathing,

Relaxing,

Nothing to do but relax.

Lying on a surface,

Resting and relaxing.

In a moment,

We are going to begin counting backwards from 100 to 0.

We'll be counting on each exhalation,

So you'll inhale a calm,

Relaxing breath,

And as you exhale,

You can think of or picture each number from 100 to 0.

If at any time you lose track of counting,

You simply start over again at 100.

If you count all the way down to 0,

You can simply start over again at 100.

I will start you off nice and slow,

And you can take your time and start over at 100 any time.

Let's begin with a gentle inhalation.

And as you exhale,

Think of or picture 100.

Inhale.

Exhale 99.

Inhale.

Exhale 98.

Inhale.

Exhale 97.

Inhale.

Exhale 96.

Take your time and continue counting down on each exhalation.

And as you exhale,

Think of or picture 100.

Inhale.

Β«Snake her out.

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Meet your Teacher

Andrea WachterSanta Cruz, CA, USA

4.7 (1 588)

Recent Reviews

Pam

March 7, 2025

I felt myself waiting for the next line of the speaking . I fell asleep within a few minutes .

Tanya

January 10, 2025

I was finally able to sleep a bit

Trish

October 5, 2024

Got me back to sleep! Even after unsuccessful tries with other sleep talks. Thanks!

Karen

September 1, 2024

Yup, fell back to sleep by 93…92…91! Thank you. Lovely voice, pacing, approach. Bookmarked! πŸ˜΄πŸ’€πŸ™

Joy

August 29, 2024

Excellent. Really helped me return to sleep. πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

Darby

August 2, 2024

This is one of my go-to sleep meditations. Her voice is so soothing and it’s the perfect balance of winding down and music that almost always helps me fall asleep.

Sheila

July 13, 2024

Excellent but I’m still awake. Will listen to another of your sleep stories. Thank you

Rebecca

July 9, 2024

Very soothing in the middle of the night

Claire

December 11, 2023

Your meditation turned my restless night into one of peace. I am so thankful.

Happybutterfly

October 4, 2023

Got me back to sleep twice in a row. Thank you so much

Jo-Ann

August 30, 2023

Wow, wow, wonderful! I was able to fall back to sleep easily. I feel well-rested and ready for my day 😌 πŸ™ πŸ¦‹ πŸ§˜β€β™€οΈβœ¨οΈ

Sloth

March 8, 2023

Very helpful.😊❣️

Hilary

March 7, 2023

So lovely!

Ginger

February 28, 2023

Soothing πŸ’žπŸ™

Nathaly

February 23, 2023

Amazing!!!

Milene

January 20, 2023

Thank you.

Susan

January 19, 2023

I in

Lyn

January 13, 2023

So thankful for Andrea’s sleep meditations! I was asleep within minutes of this particular one, and it allowed me the rest I needed. Thank you Andrea. β™₯οΈπŸ™πŸ½

Libby

December 24, 2022

This was so helpful! Thank you.😊

Maureen

September 27, 2022

Beautiful-thank you πŸ™πŸ’™

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Β© 2026 Andrea Wachter. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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