Do you have trouble falling asleep? Sometimes it hard to shut off your mind. Maybe falling asleep is as simple as counting and holding your breath...

Dr. Andrew Weil, who received his M.D. from Harvard University, is a huge supporter of the benefits of holistic breathing practices. This method, known at the "4-7-8 Exercise" has proven to work! I actually tried this, and it worked for me. So I can pass it on to you with confidence. Our minds and bodies get all worked up throughout the day. When it's time for bed, it can be hard to relax. This method controls your breath, slowing your heart rate. Here's how it works:

1. Place the tip of your tongue against the tissue ridge right above your upper front teeth. Keep it there for the remainder of the exercise.

2. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound as you do so.

3. Close your mouth and inhale slowly through your nose while mentally counting to four.

4. Hold your breath for a mental count of seven.

5. Exhale completely through your mouth for a mental count of eight. Make the same whoosh sound from Step Two.

6. This concludes the first cycle. Repeat the same process three more times for a total of four renditions.

More simply: breathe in for four, hold for seven, and breathe out for eight. You must inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. "The four-count inhale allows chronic under-breathers to take in more oxygen. The seven-count hold gives the oxygen more time to thoroughly permeate the bloodstream, and the eight-count exhale slows the heart rate and releases a greater amount of carbon dioxide from the lungs," the TIME article explains.

This practice can help even the most overworked, anxiety ridden minds slow down. Give it a try tonight and let me know what you think!

Read the full article here.