Is it too difficult for you to fall asleep at night? You
should try the 4-7-8 breathing technique that claims to help you nod off in 60
seconds! It sounds great, right?
This method has been pioneered by
Harvard-trained Dr. Andrew Weil, and it 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 calms your mind.
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.
The 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. 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 soothe you.
If you are skeptical 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 method 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 jittery 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 tad 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?