Many people struggle with insomnia, which means having a hard time falling or staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep. While there are medications and therapies, they can have side effects or be difficult to access. This has led scientists to look into simpler, more natural ways to help. Many people who have insomnia or other sleeping issues find it much easier to tire themselves out before they go to bed. Whether it is with things like housework, errands, or going out to exercise. A big aspect of good sleep happens to be fitness. Being fit not only helps you keep healthy and your body functions regularly, but it also helps people fix issues like lack of sleep. Exercise As Aid The study was done in the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and it delved into the potential of exercise-based methods to combat insomnia. They analyzed data from 22 clinical trials involving 1,348 patients and 13 different sleep-boosting measures. The study focused on seven types of exercise: YogaTai ChiWalking or JoggingAerobic plus Strength ExerciseStrength Training AloneAerobic Exercise Combined with TherapyMixed Aerobic ExercisesBest Exercises for Sleep The study found some really positive things: Yoga was a big winner. It helped people sleep almost two hours longer and cut down the time they spent awake after first falling asleep by nearly an hour. Walking or jogging made insomnia symptoms less severe overall. It also seemed to lower cortisol, which is a stress hormone, and boost melatonin, the hormone that helps control your sleep cycle.Tai Chi improved the quality of sleep.The researchers concluded that exercise is an effective way to improve sleep for people with insomnia. They specifically mentioned that yoga, Tai Chi, and walking or jogging were more effective than other exercises. Why These Exercises Work Scientists think these exercises help with sleep in a few ways: Yoga makes you more aware of your body and teaches you controlled breathing. This can help ease anxiety and depression, which often make it hard to sleep. Tai Chi involves slow, gentle movements and focuses on breathing control and relaxing your body. This can help you manage your emotions better, which is good for sleep. Walking or jogging can improve sleep by burning energy, lowering stress hormones like cortisol, helping with emotional balance, increasing melatonin (the sleep hormone), and even boosting the amount of deep sleep you get. How Much Exercise Is Enough? The studies showed that people usually kept up with the exercise for four to 26 weeks before their sleep benefits were measured. However, the studies didn't say exactly how many times a week they exercised. For yoga, beginners are usually told to do two to three sessions per week, and doing it regularly is important to see improvements. The researchers believe that exercise can be a powerful treatment for insomnia. They even suggested that exercise programs could be part of regular doctor visits and community health programs. Doctors can already suggest exercising as part of a treatment plan, and many places have programs where doctors can send patients to local fitness centers.