Breathe Your Way To A Better Life

Tiny tweaks to this most natural of functions can boost the way you feel. Now, take a slow, deep breath...

- Mark Brook

While most of us never give breathing a second thought, there are right and wrong ways of doing it.

Normal breathing should be quite effortless, through your nose and from your diaphragm. But when done incorrectly, it can lead to stress, illness, and that familiar feeling of exhaustion at the end of the day.

“A healthy breathing technique not only provides your body with oxygen, but also helps clear the mind and energises your body,” says trained breathwork and reiki practitioner Christine Heart Savage.

“The key is to become aware of your breathing and to use techniques that can help you slow down your rate and rhythm. Not only will you feel calmer and less stressed, you’ll also start to notice physical and mental benefits.”

FOR CALMNESS

When stress strikes, your first instinct is to panic. As a result, you breathe quicker and your heart races as part of the fight-or-flight response. While this kind of reaction is normal, it triggers sudden physical changes that can prolong those feelings of anxiety, such as shallow over-breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, and muscle tension.

Specific deep-breathing exercises, sometimes referred to as diaphragmatic breathing, are known for their ability to create a feeling of calm.