Can’t Sleep? These 11 Weird Tricks Might Help

Lisa Marie Conklin for Readers Digest shares 11 weird sleep hacks from experts to help on those nights when you just can’t sleep.

11 Weird Tricks That Really Do Help You Go to Sleep

Can’t sleep? Maybe it’s time to try something a little different. These tricks from sleep experts may seem weird at first, but for some people, they are a one-way ticket to sweet slumber.  Below is Tiffany Cruikshank’s tip for a falling asleep with ease.

Do a body scan

A body scan may conjure up images of an airport security check but a body scan can be an effective sleep trick to promote sleep according to Tiffany Cruikshank, L.A.c., MAOM, founder of Yoga Medicine and author of Meditate Your Weight. “The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for our ability to relax and fall asleep and body scanning is a simple technique that utilizes this by bringing awareness to the body one point at a time to bring that body back to a more coherent and relaxed state,” says Cruikshank.

“Close your eyes and turn your attention to the natural movement of your breath. Feel yourself relax there for a moment. Then begin by noticing the sensations at the top of the head, the face, scalp, and then the neck. Then, bring your attention to the right shoulder, arm, and then hand and repeat on the left side. Next notice your upper chest, abdomen, upper back, and mid- and low-back in that order. Lastly notice the right hip, leg, and foot then repeat on the left side. End with your awareness in both feet and then on the body as a whole.” Try not to favor any specific area or start judging specific body parts you don’t like. In 10 to 20 minutes, you should be ready for a peaceful slumber. Yoga is so much more than deep breathing: Find out what other benefits await when you say “om.”

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