This week we explore the research that connects sleep and rest with sex and relationships. Dionne Roberts joins us as we discuss: How your sleep affects your connection and conflict How Yoga Nidra can be used to address sleep deprivation and improve relationships Sound baths How to reduce stress in the name of overall health and happier relationships How to let go of the mindsets that cause stress and hinder relaxation Follow Dionne on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter. It's not too late to sign up for her Rest & Digest Virtual Retreat happening today! Check out her Youtube channel, and let her walk you through one of her Yoga Nidra practices below! This podcast has been sponsored by Let’sGetChecked. Use code DRJESS to save at checkout! Rough Transcript: This is a computer-generated rough transcript, so please excuse any typos. This podcast is an informational conversation and is not a substitute for medical, health or other professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the services of an appropriate professional should you have individual questions or concerns. EPISODE 196: Yoga Nidra, Rest & Sleep Habits: How They Affect Sex & Relationships (00:05): You're listening to the Sex with Dr. Jess podcast. Sex and relationship advice you can use tonight. Brandon (0:19): Welcome to the Sex With Dr. Jess Podcast. I'm your co host Brandon Ware, here with my lovely other half, Dr. Jess. Dr. Jess (0:26): Hello, how did you sleep last night? That's what's on my mind. How'd you sleep? Brandon (0:30): That’s what’s on your mind. I slept okay. Wasn't bad, had a hard time falling asleep. But once I'm asleep I'm usually out for the count. Dr. Jess (0:38): Except when I wake you up in the night. Brandon (0:40): Except when you wake me up, and my default has been to start to rub your hand before I fall back asleep. Dr. Jess (0:46): I think you just hold it. Brandon (0:49): What do you know? You don't even know anyways, you’re probably asleep. Dr. Jess (0:52): I'm feeling actually a little bit better today. My sleep has been so poor lately. With everything that's been going on, you know my schedule has been turned upside down. I don't know if we talked about the fact that we've been going to bed so early and I've been waking up by five. Brandon (1:10): We go to bed embarrassingly early, the last six weeks. Dr. Jess (1:13): But it's so weird because my whole life I've been a night owl, like my ideal would be to stay up 'til about 2:30 every night and get up by 6. Brandon (1:23): Really, 2:30? I'd be asleep by 12, 12:30, and I'd like to get up around the same, around 6. Dr. Jess (1:32): Yeah but I can't do that. I mean it's not enough sleep. I did it for so many years, and it's not healthy and that's what we're going to be talking about today. About how important feeling rested and getting a good night's sleep is to overall health and wellbeing, but also to relationships and to your sex life. So before we dive into that. I want to say thank you to “Let’s Get Checked”, check them out if you are looking to do any medical health testing at home, http://www.letsgetchecked.com. Use the code DRJESS, you can get tested for everything from hormones to STIs and a whole bunch of other tests, so do check them out. And I also wanted to shout out an event I’m pretty excited for next week, because I'm working with a brand that I've been using personally for a long time and this brand is Consonant. So Consonant was introduced to me by my mom, she would buy me their face cream, their foaming facial wash, their body wash. It's all natural. They actually even have their own podcast on pleasure. Anyhow they have asked me along with Holt Renfrew… Brandon (2:40): Fancy. Dr. Jess (2:41): … to join them for an event Thursday night, Thursday the 21st, with Holt Renfrew and Consonant. And we're going to be talking about why self pleas...