Breathing Exercises For Stress

This Holiday season give yourself the gift of breath! Breathing is something we often take for granted and forget how impactful it can be as it can happen voluntarily or involuntarily. Conscious breathing is a great tool to achieve mindfulness, which allows us to declutter the brain and let go of stress. When you feel stressed or like things are just moving too fast, or beyond your control, connect to your breath. Find peace in the present moment and let go of the chaos. Conscious breathing has tremendous health benefits, both mental and physical.

Deep breathing and breathing exercises for stress have been proven to reduce anxiety, depression, reduce blood pressure, and even increase your energy levels.

The holidays can be a particularly stressful time. With so many things to prepare, gifts to buy, events to attend, it’s hard to juggle these additional tasks with our regular routine. Which is why we should take a moment to breathe. Using a breathing resistance device like Expand-A-Lung on a low setting can help you tap into deep breathing if it’s not a practice you’re used to. By using the Expand-A-Lung you naturally elongate your inhalations and exhalations and use your diaphragm to breathe more effectively bringing more oxygen to your brain and muscles. It also has the added benefit of strengthening your respiratory muscles. Yogic breathing techniques like alternate nostril breathing or ujjayi breathing can also be effective.

You can also use your breath to calm your mind and body which is a great way to ease the road rage that may come with holiday traffic or the frustration of waiting in the excessively long check out lines. When you breathe deeply and slowly you activate the parasympathetic nervous system which reverses the stress response in your body. If you don’t have your Expand-A-Lung handy simple inhale slowly and deeply. Pause for a moment and stop at the top of your inhale, then exhale slowly until you’ve released every last bit of air. Repeat as needed, you may feel your heart rate relax, and slow down. Remember that these stressful moments are temporary and that you are the master of your own mind. You can choose to stay stressed, or actively chose mindfulness and let go of the stress.

The holiday season is also a time full of distraction. If you find that these distractions are getting in the way of your work, you can tap into your breath to find focus. Bring awareness to your breath and consciously focus on the present moment. Let go of the lingering thoughts and breathe deeply. You will find that connecting with the breath will help you clear your mind allowing you to focus on the task at hand.

Give yourself some love and take some time to breathe deeply. Your mind, body, and soul will be forever grateful!