Woman's Weekly Wellbeing: Insomnia

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Every week we team up with our sister magazine Woman's Weekly and look at a health condition, offering wellbeing tips and simple ways to ease the problem. This week it's insomnia.

Yoga

Yoga focuses on breathing, movement and meditation. Through the postures (asanas) you improve flexibility and learn how to relax. One study of 3,000 yoga students showed that 84 per per cent of those taking part had previously suffered from insomnia and reported that they slept better after an evening yoga session.
Try: For classes, visit The British Wheel of Yoga or call 01529 306851

Acupressure

According to French research, acupressure into both H7/heart 7 points (found in a
hollow under the wrist bone below the little finger), showed an increase in the length of sleep and better-quality sleep. Acupressure is recognised as a good way to reduce stress, which has a role to play in insomnia.
Try: For a local practitioner, contact the British Acupuncture Council, or try Boots Alternatives Sleep Well Cones - adhesive acupressure-point plasters to gently massage the H7 points.

Hypnosis

A hypnotherapist will bring you to a very relaxed state and then teach you how to do this for yourself, usually by learning to focus on an object or visualising a relaxing scene. You may also be given a CD afterwards.
Try: For a local practitioner, contact the Hypnotherapy Association UK. A session costs from £40 - about two sessions are normally needed to learn the technique.

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