Fitness expert explains breathing technique to help fall asleep in just two minutes

Tobi Akingbade

Say goodbye to insomnia.

A fitness expert has revealed the “mind-blowing” life hack that helps people fall asleep within two minutes.

Nap times have just become even more efficient thanks to the power of social.

Gone are the days when industry secrets remain secrets, thanks to social media and the need to over-share. While some content remains cringy, others can change lives. And that’s what happened when Justin Agustin recently posted a video to TikTok alongside the caption: “Technique to falling asleep in two minutes!”

The video has since amassed over 250,000 likes and over 3.6 million views. He explained:

“This technique was developed in the military to allow soldiers to fall asleep at any time, any place – even on the battlefield when the environment is extremely uncomfortable and there’s a lot of noise happening.”

@justin_agustin Technique to falling asleep in 2 minutes! Insp. AsapSCIENCE on YT #sleep #fallasleep #insomnia #insomniac #learnontiktok #howto ♬ You – Petit Biscuit

He continued to explain that the technique was developed for “fighter pilots who need 100 per cent of their reflexes and focus”, which decreases with lack of sleep.

You begin the hack by “calming your body” by going from “head to toe” and relaxing each individual part.

“Start by relaxing the muscles in your forehead,” Agustin explained. “Relax your eyes, your cheeks, your jaw and focus on your breathing. Now go down to your neck and your shoulders.

“Make sure your shoulders are not tensed up. Drop them as low as you can and keep your arms loose by your side, including your hands and fingers.”

(Picture: TikTok)

Justin Agustin also shares breathing technique to fall asleep

You must now “take a deep breath and slowly exhale” before relaxing your chest, stomach, thighs, knees, legs and feet.

“Again, imagine this warm sensation going down from your heart all the way to your toes.”

While doing the physical exercises, you should also “clear your mind of any stresses,” which is arguably easier said than done – but Agustin recommends thinking of one of two scenarios. He continued:

“One – you’re lying in a canoe on a calm lake with nothing but a clear blue sky above you. Two – you’re lying in a black velvet hammock in a pitch black room.

“At any time when you start thinking of anything else or you start getting distracted, repeat these words for 10 seconds: ‘Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think.’“

He added: “Apparently, 96 per cent of people who mastered this technique are actually able to fall asleep within two minutes of shutting their eyes.”

Comments beneath seemingly support the method, with one “military brat” commenting: “I also had a veteran as a psychology teacher in college who taught this. it definitely works.”

In another, similarly themed post, Agustin promotes the 4-7-8 breathing method to help you relax:

@justin_agustin This helps not just for falling asleep, but for reducing anxiety and stress any time of the day. Breath work is a great way to clear your mind and take back control. I’m counting with my fingers to show you, but you can simply count in your head. Start doing this sitting up, but once you’ve mastered it, you can do this lying down. If you have hypertension, holding your breath can raise BP so please do not hold in your breath. Hope it helps! Please send this to someone you care about ♥️ #insomnia #sleep #howtosleep #fallasleep #tired #calm #stressrelief ♬ original sound – Justin Agustin

That’s it then, off to nap all afternoon.

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