Breathing and Relaxation-it sounds so simple but it’s far too easy in modern living to fall into the stress mode of life. Some of us are stressed from the moment we wake up without even realising it. There are so many things that build up through the day that can cause stress, it doesn’t have to be one big thing, it is more often a gradual build up and suddenly we feel unable to cope.
You can use your breath to relax your mind and body. Breathing exercises help you to relearn that natural state that your body and mind want to be in, the state of relaxation.
Deep breathing is both calming and energizing. The energy you feel from a few minutes of consciously practising breathing is not nervous or hyper, but a calm, steady energy we all need. Slow, steady, and quiet breathing gives a message to your nervous system: Be calm, be still.
There are many, many different breathing exercises that you can try. Below is a quick 5-minute Breath Break, that you can use during the day to bring you into a state of calm and peace.
(Read through the instructions several times before you try the practice.)
1. Sit with your spine as straight as you can. You can use a chair. Place your feet flat on the floor with your knees directly over the center of your feet. Allow your hands to sit comfortable on top of your thighs.
2. Lightly close your eyes and let them settle behind your eye lids.
3. Bring your focus to your chest. Think about your ribs, at the front, back, and at the sides of your body. Think about your lungs, protected behind your ribs.
4. Take an easy breath in and feel the air travel through your nose and down into your lungs, feel your lungs filling up with air, feel your ribs expanding out and up.
5.Easily and gently exhale, feel your lungs slowly emptying, your ribs coming back down and in, the air leaving your nostrils. Don’t push the breath out, just allow it to naturally flow..
6. Continue with this breathing, allowing each breath to be a little longer than the last until you are breathing as slowly and deeply as possible for you.
The first few times you practise doing this, you may notice that it is difficult to breathe deeply and that your breathing is shallow and quick. As your practise more and more it will become easier and you will notice how deep breathing effects you, your body naturally relaxes, your mind relaxes, you feel clarity and calm-all in a few minutes!
At first, set aside a time at least once a day to do this. When you realise how easy it is and how good it makes you feel, you’ll want to do it at other times as well. Breathing and relaxation can easily become a part of your daily life.
This is a simple breathing technique that can easily be incorporated into your day and even five minutes a day will have huge health benefits.
You may also be interested in the article on Alternate Nostril Breathing
