Consumer Reports recently released the results of a survey suggesting that yoga is an effective remedy for many people with sleep problems, though few have tried it.
The subscription-based product and service review company surveyed its members about their sleep habits and found that problems abound. Almost 60 percent of those surveyed said they had trouble falling or staying asleep, or woke up still feeling tired at least three times a week, according to the July report.
It will come as no surprise to anyone looking for work that unemployed respondents were more likely to have sleep problems than the employed. Among those surveyed, 69 percent without jobs had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, compared to 59 percent of those with jobs.
The survey also asked those with sleep issues to give remedies they had tried and tell how well they worked. Medication was reported to be the most effective, with between 42 and 75 percent of those using drugs such as Ambien, Restoril and Klonopin saying the drugs “helped a lot.”
On the other hand, survey respondents were very open to alternative methods, from exercise and diet management (tried by 53 and 23 percent, respectively) to deep breathing and meditation. While only 5 percent of those surveyed said they’d used yoga to combat sleeplessness, 28 percent of them said it “helped a lot.”
The survey led Consumer Reports to give a list of suggestions to those having trouble sleeping. They advised readers, among other things, to make lifestyle changes, such as exercising during the day and keeping a regular schedule, and to explore alternative methods.