ROSE
07-25-2012, 02:48 PM
Deep Breathing .... a simple way to relax
Have you ever noticed how you breathe when you feel relaxed? The next time you are relaxed, take a moment to notice how your body feels. Or think about how you breathe when you first wake up in the morning or just before you fall asleep. Breathing exercises can help you relax, because they make your body feel like it does when you are already relaxed.
http://i48.tinypic.com/hwgxo0.jpg
Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe 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 when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax.
Diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing or deep breathing is breathing that is done by contracting the diaphragm, a muscle located horizontally between the chest cavity and stomach cavity. Air enters the lungs and the belly expands during this type of breathing.
This deep breathing is marked by expansion of the abdomen rather than the chest when breathing. It is considered by some to be a healthier and fuller way to ingest oxygen, and is sometimes used as a therapy for hyperventilation, anxiety disorders and stuttering.
Fortunately, it is not too late to "re-learn" how to breathe and help protect yourself from stress. Practice the simple exercise below to improve your breathing.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 10 minutes
Here's How:
1. Find a comfortable position either lying on your back or sitting. If you are sitting down, make sure that you keep your back straight and release the tension in your shoulders. Let them drop.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest.
4. Take a few breaths as you normally would. Does your belly rise and fall with every
inbreath and outbreath? If you can answer "yes," that is good. This is the natural
way of breathing. If your belly stays still but your chest rises and falls with every
breath, practice breathing by only allowing your belly to rise and fall when you
breathe in and out.
5. Continue to take deep breaths, concentrating on only moving your belly.
6. Continue as long as you would like!
Tips:
1. It can take some time to re-learn how to breathe. The more you practice, the
easier it becomes. Take some time each day to practice this exercise. You can do
it anywhere.
2. Try to practice this exercise at a time when you are already relaxed. This will make
it easier to take deeper breaths.
3. If you are having trouble taking deep breaths, try breathing in through your nose
and exhaling through your mouth. Also, slowly count to five in your head as you
breathe in and out.
Have you ever noticed how you breathe when you feel relaxed? The next time you are relaxed, take a moment to notice how your body feels. Or think about how you breathe when you first wake up in the morning or just before you fall asleep. Breathing exercises can help you relax, because they make your body feel like it does when you are already relaxed.
http://i48.tinypic.com/hwgxo0.jpg
Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe 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 when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax.
Diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing or deep breathing is breathing that is done by contracting the diaphragm, a muscle located horizontally between the chest cavity and stomach cavity. Air enters the lungs and the belly expands during this type of breathing.
This deep breathing is marked by expansion of the abdomen rather than the chest when breathing. It is considered by some to be a healthier and fuller way to ingest oxygen, and is sometimes used as a therapy for hyperventilation, anxiety disorders and stuttering.
Fortunately, it is not too late to "re-learn" how to breathe and help protect yourself from stress. Practice the simple exercise below to improve your breathing.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 10 minutes
Here's How:
1. Find a comfortable position either lying on your back or sitting. If you are sitting down, make sure that you keep your back straight and release the tension in your shoulders. Let them drop.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest.
4. Take a few breaths as you normally would. Does your belly rise and fall with every
inbreath and outbreath? If you can answer "yes," that is good. This is the natural
way of breathing. If your belly stays still but your chest rises and falls with every
breath, practice breathing by only allowing your belly to rise and fall when you
breathe in and out.
5. Continue to take deep breaths, concentrating on only moving your belly.
6. Continue as long as you would like!
Tips:
1. It can take some time to re-learn how to breathe. The more you practice, the
easier it becomes. Take some time each day to practice this exercise. You can do
it anywhere.
2. Try to practice this exercise at a time when you are already relaxed. This will make
it easier to take deeper breaths.
3. If you are having trouble taking deep breaths, try breathing in through your nose
and exhaling through your mouth. Also, slowly count to five in your head as you
breathe in and out.