Menu Enter a recipe name, ingredient, keyword...

This breathing exercise will help you sleep in JUST 60 seconds!

,
Gourmandize

Discover Dr. Weil's sleeping technique, the 4-7-8 Breath, that calms the nervous system naturally.

Ear plugs, sleeping masks, and sleeping pills are just some of ways we try  try to battle insomnia in the middle of the night.

However, these are temporary solutions that rarely solve the root problem.

A Natural Solution

Technology has chanced our lives. It's becoming increasingly difficult to unplug and disconnect from our devices. Daily stress and constant Internet distractions keep us awake late into the night, making it even harder deep and refreshing sleep.

Dr. Andrew Weil, celebrite doctor and holistic medicine specialist, believes that there is nothing more effective than breathing when you have trouble falling asleep.

A Relaxing Exercise

The techique is called  The Relaxing Breath or 4-7-8 exercise. It's a yoga-like exercise rooted in the Indian tradition of Pranayama, which means "breathing regulation".

How to do the 4-7-8 Exercise

Although you can do this exercise anywhere, it's recommended to do it sitting with your back straight. And it's very simple, made up of just 5 steps

Before starting, place your tongue between the 2 upper center incisors and the gums.

1. Exhale through your mouth with a whooshing sound
2. Close your mouth and slowly inhale from your nose, counting to 4 mentally
3. Hold your breath for 7 seconds
4. Exhale completely with a whoosh , holding for 8 seconds
5. Repeat the whole exercise for another 3 times

Practice!

It's a very simple techique that will have you dozing off in no time at all. Try it twice a day for 6-8 weeks! Only constant practice will allow you to see results!

More steaming articles



Chef Tips and Tricks

8 Mistakes That Everybody Makes With Pasta

Do you put the pasta in without waiting for the water to boil? Add oil? Forget the salt? 

Comment on this article

QUIZ: Can You Guess Which Food Contains More Calories? Think Whole Foods is Expensive? Japan Has $25,000 Melons