For most of us, the moment we get into bed becomes a battlefield for our thoughts- worries from the day, tasks for the next, and an overactive mind usually conspire to steal from us this peaceful slumber we all yearn for. If you are stuck in this cycle, the cure lies in a simple yet effective remedy of a 5-minute gentle workout before going to bed. Research has shown that such low-impact exercises not only make relaxation easy, but also get your body and mind ready for restful sleep.

Contrary to outdated beliefs that evening workouts disrupt sleep, studies like the one published in *Sports Medicine* in 2019 reveal that moderate pre-bedtime exercise can actually enhance sleep quality. However, it's important to avoid high-intensity workouts close to bedtime, as they can elevate adrenaline levels. This guide focuses on five calming exercises designed to clear your mind and relax your body, setting the stage for restorative sleep.

Why a Pre-Bedtime Exercise Works?

A light exercise before bed will help you release the physical tension, improve blood flow, and relax your muscles. With controlled breathing and being mindful of the movements involved, these exercises serve as a mental reset to move from busyness in the day to be calm and restful.

5-Minute Bedtime Routine

Plank

The plank is a full-body exercise that targets your core, shoulders, and glutes.

• Lie on your stomach with your forearms on the ground, elbows under your shoulders.
• Press into your forearms and lift your body up, creating a straight line from shoulders to feet.
• Tighten your glutes and draw your navel toward your spine.
• Hold for up to 60 seconds while breathing deeply.

Planks help increase strength and stability while promoting mindful breathing, making it a great exercise to do before sleep.

Glute Bridge

This low-impact exercise strengthens your posterior chain and improves body alignment.

• Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
• Press through your heels and lift your hips, forming a straight line from your knees to your upper back.
• Squeeze your glutes at the top, wait a second or two, and then lower slowly. Repeat 10–15 times.

The glute bridge also helps to ease discomfort in the lower back, bringing about more general physical relaxation.

Butterfly Stretch

The butterfly stretch softly opens up the hips and groin region, releasing tension that often comes from being tight up in areas throughout the day.

• Sit with your feet touching and knees bent, letting your knees fall outward.
• Sit tall with your feet crossed now, holding the crossed feet and gently pushing your knees toward the ground.
• Take in deep breaths and stay for 30–60 seconds.

This is a nice stretch to relax your body and mind before bedtime.

Also Read: Waking At 3 a.m. Every Night? It's Not A Ghost—It’s Your Body’s Warning Signal

Child's Pose

Child's pose is the favorite in yoga, which lets go of all the tension stored within the lower back, hips, and shoulders. It also cultivates deep breathing.

• Get down on the floor and place your knees far apart.
• Bend forward. Extend your arms on the floor with palms down.
• Press your hips into your heels. Let your torso rest between your thighs.
• Hold for 30–60 seconds, concentrating on slow, deep breaths.

The stretch gives a sense of grounding and helps calm an overactive mind.

Figure-4 Stretch

This stretch targets the glutes, hips, and lower back, which are areas commonly tight.

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor.
• Cross your right ankle over your left knee, forming a figure-4 shape.
• Gently pull back on your left hamstring to deepen the stretch in your right hip. Hold for 30 seconds and switch sides.

Ending with the figure-4 stretch is a great way to release tension that may remain after your practice, preparing your body for a restful slumber.

How to Create Your Bedtime Routine

Integrating this 5-minute workout into your nightly routine will completely change the nature of bedtime for you. Not only will these exercises help eliminate physical stress but also remind your brain that it is time to unwind. Continue to do these exercises in a sequence, but ensure each movement is executed with the intent to increase controlled breathing.

With consistency, this gentle workout can become a cornerstone of your sleep hygiene, leading to better rest and improved well-being.

What Helps You Sleep More Peacefully

Improving sleep quality involves creating the right environment and habits. Here's what can help:

Lifestyle Tips

- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends.

- Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol close to bedtime.

- Practice mindfulness or meditation to calm your mind.

Bedroom Environment

- Keep the room cool, dark, and quiet.

- Invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows.

- Use blackout curtains or an eye mask to block light.

Pre-Bedtime Routine

- Engage in a relaxing activity, such as reading or listening to calming music.

- Add gentle stretches or a 5-minute workout to release tension.

- Avoid screens for an hour before bedtime to avoid the blue light effect.

All these, together with the workout routine, help maximize your potential to fall into a deep rejuvenating sleep.

"He walks like this because he's had a stroke and his spatial awareness, balance, strength and gait have all been affected," says a person who claims to be a 'Physical Therapist at a home healthcare, and claims to have a doctorate in his field with 14 years of experience. The video is posted on his Instagram channel @epistemiccrisis with 74.2k followers.

What Are His Claim About President Trump's Stroke?

He claims that the reason why President Trump is Did President Trump Have A Stroke? This 'Physical Therapist' Explains Why He Believes Soall across the red carpet in a video that plays in the background is because "he lacks the spatial awareness to stay on target or on the path in a straight line".

He further says, "This is because I believe he's had a stroke that's affected the left side of his brain and caused weakness on the right side of his body. When one side of your body is weaker than the other, it can become difficult to walk in a straight line anyone. But aside from the physical weakness, your balance is affected as well."

In fact, a 2021 study published in journal Healthcare notes that stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide and balance impairments are common disabling factors in patients with stroke, which could lead to falls.

However, as per the official medical records of the president, no such strokes were mentioned. His medical report pronounced him in "excellent health". The examination was done at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The report also emphasized that Trump maintains a "demanding daily schedule without restriction". Not only that, the report has gone so far to declare Trump's cardiac age as 14 years younger than his actual age after an electrocardiogram.

Read More: What Does Trump's Latest Health Checkup Reveal About Him?

Though the 'Physical Therapist' believes otherwise. He says that when he went back to Walter Reed for his checkup, it was a six-week follow-up for a stroke event that "he probably had over Labor Day". "A stroke on the left side of the brain would also explain why he talks nonsense so much more often nowadays and also why when he is fatigued after long travel like you see in that video, his speech is much slower, much quieter and much more slurred," he claims.

The 'Physical Therapist' further claims that being 80-years old, Trump is also experiencing age-related cognitive decline.

Read: Why Is This Doctor Asking President Trump To Take Alzheimer's Test?

Have Their Been Other Claims On President Trump's Health?

Previously, Dr Narinder Kapur, a consultant neuropsychologist and visiting professor at the University College London said that president's behavior over the last six months has been "quite odd and strange," as reported by Express, UK. He said that there may be a possibility of frontotemporal dementia, that the President must take a test for.

There were also claims about President's 'riddled with arthritis' condition and the need for a double hip replacement surgery. Furthermore, Kai Trump, president's granddaughter's latest Instagram post have also raised questions abut his health, especially the hand bruise.

Read: Kai Trump’s New Instagram Post Sparks Questions About Donald Trump’s Health And His Mysterious Hand Bruise

This is not the first time the 'Physical Therapist' from the account @epsitemiccrisis has made a claim about president Trump. In the past, he linked president's use of smaller stairs to climb to the aircraft with having a stroke. He said that he is using smaller sets of stair so "the public won't notice that he's had a stroke". He explains that when someone's had a stroke, it can involve paralysis of the perineal nerve. This bends your foot up towards your head during your walking. If this nerve is paralyzed, you get a "foot drop". He also claimed that the same thing happened with Joe Biden as he also changed with smaller sets of stairs.

However, none of his claims have been attributed, and the White House does medical reports do not corroborated any of such news.

Note: This piece is based on the claims made by the account @epistemiccrisis. Health And Me does not authenticate any of these claims.

We all know working out had great benefits, but do you also sometimes feel too lazy to go to the gym? Well, you can now work out at your home. For many, the idea of hitting the gym, or waiting for your turn to use the machine, or just dealing with crowd in general could derail the motivation. But, the good news is that there are tools you can buy and set your own home gym.

Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan's fitness trainer Mahesh Ghanekar also swears by such high-impact equipment. We have shortlisted 8 must have home gym tools from his list that you must have!

Dumbbells

This is a classic one, but is of course a classic strength builder. If there’s one piece of equipment that should top your list, it’s a good pair of dumbbells. Ghanekar recommends a range from 2.5 kg to 20 kg, depending on your level.

Dumbbells help target every major muscle group, from shoulders to glutes, and can be used for both toning and compound movements like squats and presses. Studies also show that free-weight exercises with dumbbells improve muscle coordination and strength more effectively than machines.

Kettlebell

Another classic, and it helps with both strength and endurance. It is compact, but the impact is powerful. They are a great equipment for dynamic movements like swings, snatches, and squats. Ghanekar suggests that you can start with a 5 to 12 kg kettlebell for home use.

Resistance Bands

While they seem easy, they are the best equipment for portable gym. They are most versatile and space-saving workout tools. You can use them for strength training, stretching, or even rehabilitation.

According to Ghanekar, they’re perfect for beginners and advanced exercisers alike because they engage stabilizing muscles and improve flexibility, all without putting too much strain on joints.

Jump Rope

The best way to do cardio at home is by jumping rope. A jump rope is one of the best cardio tools you can own. It enhances coordination, burns calories fast, and boosts cardiovascular health.

Just ten minutes of skipping can match the benefits of a 30-minute jog, says Ghanekar. It’s small, portable, and easy to store, making it an ideal home essential.

Adjustable Bench

An adjustable bench allows you to perform a variety of exercises like presses, step-ups, or core work.

Ghanekar says that the incline and decline positions help activate different muscle areas, especially the chest and arms, allowing a more rounded strength routine at home.

Yoga Mat

A yoga mat is more than just for yoga. It’s a must-have for stretching, pilates, or even bodyweight exercises.

Ghanekar recommends investing in a thick, non-slip mat to improve posture, prevent injuries, and create a dedicated space for mindfulness and recovery.

Foam Roller

Post-workout recovery is as important as training. A foam roller helps release tight muscles, improve circulation, and prevent soreness.

Ghanekar says regular foam rolling can enhance flexibility and speed up recovery, allowing you to stay consistent with your workouts.

Stepper

A simple stepper or aerobic platform is a great way to tone your legs, improve balance, and get your heart pumping.

Ghanekar highlights that stepping workouts improve lower-body endurance and cardiovascular fitness, and can even reduce body fat when done consistently.

Walking has a lot of benefits, we already know that. However, how much should one walk? a recent study among older people revealed that if seniors could achieve a 4,000 steps goal in one to two days in a week, they would lower their risk of early deaths by a quarter.

This study was led by Harvard University, and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

What Did the Study Find About Older People's Health And Walking?

We all know that staying active brings great health benefits. In fact, Health and Me also covered how walking and staying active could lower the risk of dementia. Until now, however, it was unclear how much should one walk.

With this recent study, researchers found that achieving 4,000 steps per day on one or two days a week could lower risk of death and lower risk of cardiovascular disease, (CVD), as compared to not reaching this level on any day.

How Was The Study That Analyzed Older People's Walking And Its Impact On Health Conducted?

The study analyzed 13,547 American women, who were over the age of 62, with the average being 72. All of them were given trackers for seven consecutive days, between 2011 and 2015. These people were followed for over a decade. None of them had heart disease or cancer at the beginning of the study.

While they were being monitored in the end of 2024, 1,756 women died and 781 developed heart disease.

The study found that those who clocked up at least 4,000 steps a day on one or two days of the week had 26% lower risk of death from all causes, and a 27% lower risk of dying from heart diseases. This was as compared to those who did not reach this threshold on any day of the week. The study further saw that those who achieved the step count for three days of the week, their lower risk of death from any cause increased by 40%, however for CVD related deaths, it remained at 27%.

Takeaways And Limitations

The researchers said that while the most important take away was that people would now have an amount to walk. However, it is important to note that the study was observational, with no firm conclusion, and was done only on women, and assessed for only one week.

The researchers agreed that there is no "best" way to take your steps. The key is to just ensure that you are getting your steps in. "A greater number of steps, regardless of daily patterns, is associated with better health outcomes." The study saw that on an average, women took 5,615 steps a day.

While there were limitations, but the researchers still added, "An important translational implication of these findings is that since step volume is the important driver of the inverse associations, there is no ‘better’ or ‘best’ pattern to take steps; individuals can undertake [physical activity] in any preferred pattern (eg ‘slow and steady’ v ‘bunched patterns’) for lower mortality and CVD risk, at least among older women. These findings provide additional evidence for considering including step metrics in the next [physical activity] guidelines, and that ‘bunching’ steps is a viable option for health.”