Have you ever been told to relax and to take a deep breath? I’ve said this and also been told this through my years. I decided to look deeper into this “saying.” Have you ever noticed how you breathe in a relax state of mind? For me, I enjoy my massages, walks on the beach, first sip of coffee and swimming laps. What do these activities of mine have in common? Well I notice that these activities relaxed me. My breathing became deep and it made me feel calm and centered. Then I quickly came to realize that Deep Breathing can be done anywhere and anytime!!
Deep Breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breath deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax.
I will list four different breathing techniques. I found the Deep Breathing exercise my favorite to do in the morning and the Modified Lion’s Breath comes in handy after driving in traffic.
Before you get started, Keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t force it. This can make you feel more stressed
- Try to do it at the same time once or twice a day
- Wear comfortable clothes
Many breathing exercises take only a few minutes. When you have more time, you can do them for 10 minutes or more to get even greater benefits.
Deep Breathing
1. Get comfortable. You can lie on your back in bed or on the floor with a pillow under your head and knees. Or you can sit in a chair with your shoulders, head, and neck supported against the back of the chair.
2. Breathe in through your nose. Let your belly fill with air.
3. Breathe out through your nose.
4. Place one hand on your belly. Place the other hand on your chest.
5. As you breathe in, feel your belly rise. As you breathe out, feel your belly lower. The hand on your belly should move more than the one that’s on your chest.
6. Take three more full, deep breaths. Breathe fully into your belly as it rises and falls with your breath.
Breath Focus
1. Close your eyes if they’re open.
2. Take a few big, deep breaths (Deep Breathing Exercise)
3. Breathe in. As you do that, imagine that the air is filled with a sense of peace and calm. Try to feel it throughout your body.
4. Breathe out. While you’re doing it, imagine that the air leaves with your stress and tension.
5. Now use a word or phrase with your breath. As you breathe in, say in your mind, “I breathe in peace and calm.”
6. As you breathe out, say in your mind, “I breathe out stress and tension.”
7. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes.
Equal Time for Breathing in/out
1. Sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair.
2. Breathe in through your nose. As you do it, count to five.
3. Breathe out through your nose to the count of five.
4. Repeat several times.
Once you feel comfortable with breaths that last five counts, increase how long you breathe in and breathe out. You can work up to breaths that last up to 10 counts.
Modified Lion’s Breath
1. Sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair.
2. Breathe in through your nose. Fill your belly all the way up with air.
3. When you can’t breathe any more, open your mouth as wide as you can. Breathe out with an “Ahh” sound.
4. Repeat several times.
Practice these Breathing Techniques and make it your daily routine. You will be surprised how your mind and physical will being change for the better.
READY….. SET…..GO!!!!!
BREATHE