Mini-Clinic: Alternative Medicine Therapies
2. Kriya Yoga: An alternative treatment for insomnia
Photo: Michael Gosbee/Getty Images
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Most of us have trouble sleeping from time to time, but for 63 percent of American women, insomnia is nearly a nightly occurrence. Before asking your doctor for an Ambien prescription, though, you might first try a little om time.
In a recent study, subjects who practiced a type of meditation called kriya yoga for 20 to 30 minutes each day stayed asleep longer and spent less time awake in bed at night compared with subjects who received only tips to improve their overall health. "Insomniacs have higher levels of physical and mental arousal," says study author Ramadevi Gourineni, MD, a neurologist at Northwestern University. "Kriya—even when practiced during the day—calms the body's arousal response, which promotes better sleep at night." —P.G.
Next: Is kombucha tea really a wonder drink?
In a recent study, subjects who practiced a type of meditation called kriya yoga for 20 to 30 minutes each day stayed asleep longer and spent less time awake in bed at night compared with subjects who received only tips to improve their overall health. "Insomniacs have higher levels of physical and mental arousal," says study author Ramadevi Gourineni, MD, a neurologist at Northwestern University. "Kriya—even when practiced during the day—calms the body's arousal response, which promotes better sleep at night." —P.G.
Next: Is kombucha tea really a wonder drink?
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