Breathing exercises can be incredibly beneficial to help us wind down and remain calm during our bedtime routines. Being one of the cheapest means to help aid sleep, there are many popular breathing exercises that can be carried out.
A Harvard trained medical doctor, Dr Andrew Weil, believes breathing in and out is the key to getting the perfect nights sleep.
We have recently been seeing the ‘4-7-8’ Breathing Exercise everywhere! It is said to make you fall asleep in as little as 1 minute. This breathing exercise, also known as the ‘Relaxing Breath’ is said to promote a better night’s sleep, with just 5 steps and can be done anywhere and everywhere. Based on an ancient Indian practice, Pranayama, which stands for “regulation of breath” the exercise, eases the body into a state of relaxation and calmness.
So how do you go about practising this?
Step 1) Make a whoosh sound by exhaling completely through your mouth.
Step 2) Shut your mouth and quietly inhale through your nose, counting mentally to 4.
Step 3) Hold your breath for 7 seconds
Step 4) Exhale by making a whoosh sound again, for a count of 8.
Step 5) Repeat this cycle another 3 times, so in total for 4 breaths.
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