BREATHE BETTER

Instead of clock-watching, try holistic health and wellbeing expert Rophin Vianney’s (chakrabalance.co.uk) box breathing exercise to reduce insomnia-related anxiety and encourage rest. The best part is, you can do it from the comfort of your bed. Here’s what to do…

1 Take a couple of slow, deep breaths.

2 Inhale through your belly, ribs and lungs, counting 1, 2, 3.

3 Hold and engage your pelvic floor, and count 1, 2, 3.

4 Slowly exhale, this time counting backwards: 3, 2, 1.

5 Hold your breath at the bottom of your exhale counting 3, 2, 1.

6 Repeat, tuning in to the sound of your breath. Imagine each inhale, hold, or exhale as a line that you draw to form the shape of a box.

Rophin says you’ll eventually drop off because the relaxation technique removes any stressful feelings associated with sleeplessness. For more of Rophin’s calming tricks, go to Facebook.com/womanmagazine