sleep

Whenever my friend Shannon can’t sleep because too many thoughts are barreling through her mind, she calls it “riding the A train.” She’ll text me at 3 a.m., “I’m on the A train again.” Of course, I get the message because I’m awake, too. My type A personality and new business responsibilities are battling it out with my dire need for some mental stillness and rest.

In this post: 3 sleeping positions that hurt! … Try yogic breathing to help you sleep better … 3 ways to sleep more comfortably on your side

Insomnia isn’t a four-letter word, but it ought to be. Lying awake at night is no fun, but everyone’s doing it: A survey by the National Sleep Foundation estimates that 58 percent of American adults experience insomnia at least a couple nights a week. Good ol’ yoga to the rescue once again! Selected with doctors at Mayo Clinic’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine program, the three yoga poses guided in the video clips below will calm your mind, release muscle tension and help you sleep like a baby.

Not being able to sleep is the worst feeling in the world. I should know; I’ve been experiencing insomnia for the past couple of weeks, lying awake for what seems like hours. I’m loath to try sleeping pills, so of course I’m exploring every other option. Nothing seems to help — not even a few drops of herbal tinctures like Rescue Remedy, or a sachet of lavender tucked into my pillow.