These Workouts Could Help you Sleep Better

Most people know that having a regular exercise routine is good for your body and can help reduce stress. But did you know that working out can also help you get better sleep?

Try these types of workouts, which have been proven to help you get higher quality sleep.

Yoga

Yoga is a good workout to help you get better sleep for a number of reasons.

1. Yoga incorporates stretching, muscle strengthening and endurance, all of which are great for your body.

2. Practicing yoga involves breathing exercises and clearing the mind, which can help reduce stress. (This is especially good if you have trouble turning off your brain before bed.)

3. People with insomnia can benefit from doing yoga regularly, as it helps clear the mind and prepare the body for sleep.

Here are some of our favorite, relaxing yoga poses you can try:  

Read our full break down (dog) on yoga for better rest, here. >>

Cardio

According to the National Sleep Foundation, adding any aerobic, cardio activity to your routine can improve your quality of sleep. On average, it's recommended that you get about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio or 75 minutes of high-intensity cardio per week to reap the most benefits. However, adding as little as 10 minutes of cardio a day to your weekly routine can help you sleep better.

There are many different forms of cardio, so you can experiment and find an activity that you enjoy. Try running, briskly walking, cycling or swimming to get your cardio in for better rest.

Strength training

You can also try improving your quality of sleep by adding strength training to your routine. Strength training has been proven to help you fall asleep faster at bedtime and stay asleep through the night.

Have you heard of the exercise-sleep connection? Not only is strength training good to help you sleep, but sleep is crucial for post-workout recovery, too. If you don't get enough sleep after a strength training session or hard workout, your body may not produce enough human growth hormone (HGH). HGH is a naturally occurring hormone body produces to aid in muscle repair and growth and without it, your body may not recover fully.

Try adding strength training activities like bicep curls, tricep dips, calf raises, lunges, squats and push ups to your routine to get your best rest.

Remember, everyone is different. A morning jog three times a week might be the key to better rest for you, but may not be right for your bestie. Experiment with different workouts, times of day and schedules to find what helps you get your best sleep.