Many times my patients will tell me that they have problems sleeping – they either have trouble getting to sleep or they have problems staying asleep. Not surprising, generally around our late 40’s – 50’s we start to become deficient in melatonin, a hormone that regulates our sleep patterns. As we near age 60, melatonin stores decrease even further.
Frequently I hear my patients complain that they feel stiff all over especially in the morning when they first get out of bed. It takes them several moments of stumbling around and/or taking a warm shower before they can finally limber up. When I tell them that there is a form of exercise that can help banish that stiffness and creaky joints, their response is often one of surprise. It’s true, though. That exercise is the ages-old practice of Yoga. Here’s why.