Breathe to De-stress

So many of us are multi-tasking these days!!!! If we’re not doing multiple things at the same time, we are at least thinking of what we need to do next, while we’re engaged in doing something else. Our world requires much more active participation, with long hours, working at top speed, dedicated to keeping everything going just to get everything done. This relentless, nonstop, activity begins to create a sense of internal tension and anxiety within us. It subtle to start, but the consistent nature of the demands begin to have a synergistic effect. At some point we start to have trouble sleeping, become less patient, and feel on edge most of the time. BUT…

There is an easy solution – a natural tranquilizer – and it takes very little time. Just BREATHE!!! But first you have to stop what you’re doing, tap into a feeling of gratitude, and begin the process.

Breathing exercise:

1. Exhale fully and audibly through your mouth.
2. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose to a count of 4.
3. Hold your breath to a count of 7.
4. Exhale fully and audibly through your mouth to a count of 8.
5. Repeat the cycle three more times for a total of 4 breaths.

Do this at least twice a day for 4 breaths, but no more than that for the first month. You can gradually increase to 8 breaths.

This is one of the best ways to relax. Feel the stress and anxiety melt away!!!

(For iPhone users there is a free app from the National Center for Telehealth & Technology called Breathe2Relax. It helps you learn how to breathe and gives wellness tips. It doesn’t follow these steps exactly, but it combines music, pictures, and words to guide your breathing. You can adapt it to your own breathing rhythm).