If you aren’t getting enough sleep at night, chances are other areas of your life are taking a hit too. Sleep deprivation has been linked to weight gain, slower brain activity and a weaker immune system, according to Healthline.
The site also reports that regularly getting less than five hours of sleep per night increases health risks by 15 percent. Many people have a difficult time falling asleep at night.
Whether you’re stressed about work, bills, or family or your body just won’t shut down, you may be able to get some relief with this breathing technique.
The simple breathing routine is called the “4-7-8” technique.
To start, touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth (and try to keep it there the entire time). Then, breathe out, completely emptying your lungs.
Close your mouth and breathe in through your nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7 and then blow all of the air out through your mouth forcefully for a count of 8 (you should make a whooshing sound when breathing out). Repeat for four cycles.
Dr. Andrew Weil recommends doing this at least twice a day for only four breath cycles each. After the first month or so, you can increase to eight breath cycles each session.
“After two months, three months of regular practice, there are very significant changes that happen with the physiology. This lowers heart rate, it lowers blood pressure, improves digestion,” Weil says.
Source: remedydaily
