Breathing Exercises to Relieve Stress

November 2, 2007 by Lucy

We very often in certain situations, we forget to breath properly when we’re stressed, but you can very easily use breathing exercises to relax, rather than stress your mind and body. Yoga can help you to relearn the natural state that your body and mind want to be in i.e. relaxation.

Deep breathing is both calming and energizing. The energy you feel from a few minutes of careful breathing is not nervous or hyper, but that calm, steady energy we all need. Slow, steady, and quiet breathing gives a message to your nervous system: Be calm.

Volumes of books have been written on yoga breathing, but here is a 5-minute breath-break. (Read through the instructions several times before you try it)

Sit with your spine as straight as possible. Use a chair if necessary but don’t slump into it. Feet flat on the floor with knees directly over the centre of your feet. Use a book or
Close your eyes gently and let them rest behind closed lids.
Think about your ribs, at the front, back, and at the sides of your body. Your lungs are behind those ribs.
Feel your lungs filling up, your ribs expanding out and up. Feel your lungs emptying, your ribs coming back down and in. Don’t push the breath.
The first few times you do this, do it for 2 to 3 minutes, then do it for up to 5 to 10 minutes. At first, set aside a time at least once a day to do this. When you learn how good it makes you feel, you’ll want to do it at other times as well.

Just as one stressful situation goes into your next challenge, relaxing for a few minutes every day gradually carries over into the rest of your daily life and activities.