When you’re feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed, where do you look to find calm? Maybe it’s a favorite food or a favorite spot to sit. Or maybe it’s a glass of wine or a massage. But, did you know the best tool to reduce anxiety and manage stress is free and easily accessible to you at any given moment? That’s right – it’s your breath!
We’ve all heard someone say to us, “Just breathe,” when we are overwhelmed or panicked and while that might sound like a predictable statement, it’s actually great advice. Deep breathing is one of the best ways to quickly lower the amount of stress in our body. When we breathe deeply, we are sending a message to our brain to calm down, which, in turn, sends the same message to the rest of our body.
So, all those “Fight or Flight” reflexes that naturally arise when we are anxious, start to slow down – our increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and fast breaths.
Deep, conscious breaths allow us to release any negative energy we are holding inside, which can manifest as physical ailments if stored up for too long. Breathwork exercises increase oxygen flow and promote healing, by letting the body release toxins more easily.
Here’s a simple breathwork technique that you can add to your daily routine or use whenever you feel overwhelmed and overstressed:
- Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose with your shoulders relaxed, making sure your abdomen expands.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth, pursing your lips as you blow out, until all of the air leaves your lungs.
- Repeat this exercise for several minutes.
Breathing will have an effect on your entire body. The best thing is, although these techniques are highly effective, they are incredibly simple to learn, and you can do them whenever you want, wherever you want without needing any special equipment.
