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One of the methods detailed was claimed to be developed by the US military with a 96 per cent rate
after six weeks of practice - involving abut two minutes of mind and body preparation, which should
people reach the land of nod in under 120 seconds.

Men's lifestyle website Joe.co.uk rediscovered the old method - sending it viral.

Many people suffer from disrupted sleep, and as many as a third claim to have insomnia - so the
relaxation technique has been hailed as a blessing.

The US Military Method

1: Relax your face - including your tongue, jaw, and the muscles around your eyes.

2: Drop your shoulders as low as they can go. Then relax your upper and lower arm on one side, and
then the other.

3: Breathe out, and relax your chest.

4: Finally, relax your legs, from the thighs to the calves.

5: When your mind is clear, try to picture one of the following images: Lying in a canoe on a calm
lake, nothing but blue sky above you; Snuggled in a black velvet hammock in a pitch-black room;
Saying “don’t think, don’t think, don’t think” over and over for ten seconds.

The US army put a disclaiming on the method - saying: "The bottom line when it comes to getting
restful sleep is doing what works for you.

"There is no magical formula other than listening to your body," - however they found in testing that
it was 96 per cent successful.

Insomnia affects more people than previously thought and comes in two categories. Type 1 insomnia
is when you can't get to sleep at all, and Type 2 means you may get to sleep, but will wake up at
least once during the night.

There are numerous health concerns related to a lack of sleep - from diabetes to heart disease and
depression.

A recent study by the Uppsala University in Sweden revealed that disrupted sleep patterns alter
metabolism and boost the body's ability to store fat, making a strong link between obesity and shift
work.

Meanwhile, research by the European Study of Cardiology found that getting less than five hours
sleep a night could be as bad for you as smoking.