Some people have a hard time sleeping. We can chalk it up to bad food late at night, too many screens before bed, and stress. It is incredibly difficult to shut your brain down and give it a break at night.
So, is it too difficult for you to fall asleep every night, too? You should try the 4-7-8 breathing technique that claims to help you nod off in 60 seconds! It sounds great, right?
The million dollar question is, what is the method 4, 7 and 8?
The method was developed by a wellness practitioner, Harvard-educated Dr. Andrew Weil, who studies meditation, breathing, and how it can be used to counteract stress. His method involves regulating your breathing to various counts of 4, 7, and 8. It’s very interesting that it lets the oxygen fill the lungs better, and it relaxes your mind.
It’s very easy and simple. You breathe through your nose for four second, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale through your mouth for eight seconds. It slows down your heart rate, and it also releases chemicals in our brain that calms you.
If you are unconvinced like me, you should try it! I tried it, and trust me it works! It ended up working like a total charm. I was out before I reached my fourth repetition and it tends to knock me out easily in less than a minute.
This technique is great for more than just falling asleep though. In the moment when we are stressed, our endocrine system releases adrenaline through our adrenal glands. This elevates your heart rate, and can make you feel edgy and unwell. It makes you breathe rapid and shallow. But, using this breathing method, you counteract the natural effects of adrenaline and your body is forced to slow down your heart rate. It doesn't have a choice! At the beginning, you may feel a bit uncomfortable. After a while, you really do feel your heart rate slow and your mind clear.
So, why don’t you try this tonight and tell us what you think?
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