Stretching 'is a natural alternative to sleep drugs'

Individuals with trouble sleeping have been advised that it is possible to get a good night's sleep without necessarily having to resort to medication.

According to a recent study, stretching appears to help people unwind after a long day before they get into bed, seattlepi.com reports.

It speculates that a basic yoga routine may be ideal, but notes a simple stretching out of the day's knots could do the trick.

For those wanting to burn calories off as well as get some proper bed rest, morning workouts for around half an hour a day also appeared to enhance sleep.

"Women who worked out that much at night didn't see sleep benefits," the site warns, "though that's no surprise."

It adds that better sleep can reduce overeating, heart attack risk and arterial ageing and make people feel better.

Media website 5minLife Videopedia features a short clip on how to stretch your way to sleep.

After a stretching session, people may look forward to a night on a Tempuramattress packed with memory foam to take the pressure off their joints.

Classic Bed Company is the UK's premier bed store for ultimate comfort and luxury offering Tempur, Vi Spring, Willis Gambier, French sleigh beds and contemporary beds online.