Aerial Restore for Better Sleep: New Research Shows Yoga Lowers Cortisol and Helps You Fall Asleep Faster (Boston Edition)
Can 30 minutes in a hammock help you sleep? Science says yes.
CNET’s latest coverage on sleep and yoga breaks down a growing body of research: gentle, supported movement lowers cortisol, activates the parasympathetic nervous system, and helps people fall asleep more easily. The takeaway is simple — slow, restorative practices work. And they work fast.
Swet Studio’s Aerial Restore + Meditate class maps directly onto the exact mechanisms researchers point to. This isn’t “relaxation” as an aesthetic. It’s a physiological reset.
What the Research Actually Says
CNET highlights yoga teacher–backed poses and studies showing:
Cortisol drops within minutes during slow, restorative movement.
Supported inversions and gentle folds help activate the vagus nerve, shifting the body out of stress mode.
Sleep quality improves when the nervous system gets consistent down-regulation — even 10–15 minutes of the right movement makes a difference.
Researchers consistently point to three ingredients for better sleep:
gentle, supported movement
slow breathing
a safe, quiet environment that cues the body to power down
This is the exact architecture of Aerial Restore.
How Aerial Restore Works as a Sleep Tool
Our clients describe Restore as “my reset button” and “the only class where my mind actually turns off.”
Here’s why it works:
1. The hammock does the heavy lifting for you.
In restorative yoga on the ground, you have to build props and settle your body.
In aerial, the hammock holds your joints, spine, and weight perfectly — zero muscular engagement, full support.
This leads to rapid parasympathetic activation, which is the key pathway linked to falling asleep faster.
2. Gentle rocking regulates your nervous system.
Rocking isn’t just soothing — it’s physiological. Studies show rhythmic, low-amplitude movement:
• slows heart rate
• increases alpha brain waves
• mimics the neural patterns of early sleep
This is why clients often say they feel “dreamy” coming out of savasana.
3. Inversions reduce cortisol.
Supported inverted shapes — even mild ones — are associated with lowered stress hormones.
In the hammock, inversions are effortless, safe, and deeply calming.
4. Meditation closes the loop.
The final guided meditation settles your brain into a pre-sleep state, improving sleep latency (how fast you fall asleep).
Sleep Hygiene Tips You Can Start Tonight
Pair these with Aerial Restore for best results:
Avoid screens 60 minutes before bed (blue light suppresses melatonin).
Keep your room under 68°F for faster sleep onset.
Use a consistent wind-down ritual — the body loves predictable cues.
Practice 4-6 breathing (inhale 4, exhale 6) to drop your heart rate.
Take one Restore class per week to retrain your nervous system into a calmer baseline.
Mini Playlist: “Swet Sleep Reset”
A curated micro-playlist inspired by our Restore room vibe:
• “Holocene (Instrumental)” — Bon Iver
• “First Dream” — Slow Meadow
• “Inverness” — Message to Bears
• “Weightless” — Marconi Union
(We can turn this into a Spotify link if you want to embed it.)
Don’t Just Read About It — Feel It
If you’re struggling with sleep, high stress, racing thoughts, or feeling “wired but tired,” try a single Aerial Restore + Meditate class.
Use code SLEEP10 for a discount on your first Restore session (Mondays & Fridays at 7:30pm)
