6 stretches to try for a better night sleep

(Sara Moniuszko/ CBS News) — Taking a moment to slow down your body and quiet your mind through stretching can be a beneficial step to add to your bedtime routine, movement experts say. 

“Throughout the day, we accumulate tension whether from physical activity, prolonged sitting or mental stress. Taking a few minutes to stretch before bed offers a simple way to release that buildup, easing both body and mind into a restful state,” Kat Pasle-Green, a personal trainer and coach at recreation company Bay Club who specializes in healthy sleep routines with her clients, told CBS News. 

While stretching can benefit physical well-being by keeping muscles flexible and healthy, it can also support mental health, according to research. Studies have also shown stretching can help patients dealing with chronic insomnia.

Leading a busy life with working, commuting or parenting can leave people feeling disconnected from their bodies when it’s time to go to sleep, Tim Kelleher, instructor and owner of Boston Yoga Union, told CBS News. (…)