Breathing: The Real Secret To Stress Relief
By Abbas Abedi
Proper breathing is the key to relieving stress, eliminating negative thoughts, increasing energy and relaxation.
Isn't it amazing that something we do continuously every day and every night can be such a powerful source of stress relief? We have become so familiar with our breathing that we are almost completely unaware of its effects.
Consider this: our breath bridges our conscious and unconscious. That is, unconsciously we are always breathing, but at any time we can consciously focus on our breathing.
This is important to remember because all our emotional states are reflected in our breathing. If we are stressed our breathing tends to be shallow and focused in our upper lungs.
In fact jerky breathing itself will actually increase anxiety and stress. While when we are relaxed we tend to breathe fully into our belly. Practicing belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) can be extremely beneficial.
Simply knowing this can make a big difference. Breathe deeply if you are stressed. It WILL make a difference.
In yoga, breathing is considered to be so important that before any task, a yogi begins by preparing his breathing. Proper breath control is considered the key to healthy living. In fact, learning to do proper diaphragmatic breathing has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety permanently.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Sit or stand with your back straight, put your hand on your belly and breath in a slow and deep pattern. Don’t try to overfill the lungs or empty them - just breath softly - expanding your belly on the inhale and contracting on the exhale. Keep your attention focused on your breathing. You will find that your mind will tend to drift. That is normal. Simply return your attention to your breath when you notice you got distracted. Allow the relaxation from this breathing pattern to spread through your body and just enjoy yourself.
Practicing diaphragmatic breathing on a regular basis will alleviate stress and give you the ability to more effectively manage your stress.
Recommended Resources
Relaxation and Breathing for Meditation : This DVD consists of two sections, each approximately 30 minutes long. The first one ("Conscious Relaxation") is devoted to several easy, relaxation-inducing poses and the second ("Conscious Breathing") focuses entirely on the breath itself.
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