If you have insomnia, Vikings actress and yoga teacher Maude Hirst, founder of Energy Rise has a breathing technique to help
If you feel like there’s nothing worse than a sleepless night, staring at the 3am clock, you’re not alone. According to the Mental Health Foundation’s survey, nearly 30 percent of Brits are severely sleep deprived, which in return, heightens the risk of mental health and relationship problems.
The 2011 study reported the results of 6,700 people, and found that on average women have more trouble sleeping than men. Using a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 classifying excellent sleep, men scored a 61 per cent average, while women came in at 57 per cent.
Nearly 30 percent of Brits are severely sleep deprived
But it doesn’t stop there. The study also highlighted the effects of insomnia on everyday life. 45 per cent reported they had difficulty staying awake during daylight hours compared to the ten per cent of ‘good sleepers.’ And as for energy levels, nearly 95 percent said they had low energy in their day-to-day routine with 75 percent reporting poor concentration, too.
So the question becomes, what’s the cure for trouble sleeping?
Yoga star, Maude Hirst recommends the practice of Bhramari breath before bed, which aims to bring you out of an anxious or stressed state, so you can achieve the relaxing snooze you deserve.
Bhramari breath in 5 easy steps:
1) Bring your fingers up to your ears
2) Close your eyes
3) Take a deep inhale
4) On your exhale, make the buzzing sound a bee makes—this resonates through your whole body and calms your nervous system
5) Continue this for 10 minutes
Maude Hirst is a born and bred East Londoner, best known for her role as Helga in the hit TV show ‘Vikings. She is an actor turned mindfulness teacher on a mission to create a bespoke path into mindfulness for you. Discovering yoga and meditation has totally changed her life for the better and she believes it can do the same for you.
Following a traumatic breakup a few years ago, Maude has been on an extraordinary journey of healing and training – discovering the power of mindfulness. Practices that help you switch your awareness from the external world, to your internal world, discovering strategies to rebuild your life in a healthy, conscious way.
Maude is trained in yoga, meditation, intuitive movement meditation, Theta Healing and Reiki and has created her company EnergyRise (www.energyrise.co.uk ) to bring you an array of mindfulness practices in order to cater to your individual needs.
At a time where there is more stress and anxiety in the world than ever before, Maude believes mindfulness is the key to bringing some calm and clarity to your life through simple practices. Empowering you to listen to what truly makes you happy and who you truly are.
Instagram: maudehirst
Twitter: maudehirst
Facebook: maudehirstyoga
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