Breathe in and out therapy is a simple technique which, when practiced regularly for at least 3 minutes can bring about immense benefits to your physical and mental well-being. Deep breathing exercises are extremely simple to perform, but they have the ability to provide fast results with almost no effort on your part. This article will provide you with the keys to begin using your breath as a tool for fighting stress, improving your mood, and maintaining your overall health.
Benefits of Breathing Exercises
The benefits of breathing exercises are extremely thorough in their scope. During periods in which you must remain calm in stressful situations, breathing exercises can keep you level headed and focused. This is especially the case in scenarios such as job interviews, when you must maintain an image of confidence and composure when feeling anything but anxiety or nerves. With regular practice, breathing exercises can also be used to help you fall asleep faster and remain asleep for longer periods of time.
By taking in more oxygen than your body needs and then releasing it all in one breath, you give your blood stream more oxygen than it can carry. As a result, the excess oxygen is deposited into your brain cells, where it acts as a powerful stimulant. For this reason, breathing exercises are often recommended to patients suffering from various forms of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
How to Perform Breathing Exercises
To begin performing breathing exercises, simply sit up straight and place one hand on your upper chest and the other on your abdomen. When inhaling, the hand on your abdomen should go upward while the one on your chest should not move much at all. When exhaling, you will push out as much air as possible through your mouth by contracting the muscles in your abdomen. You should make a whoosh sound with every exhale; the longer and stronger you can make it, the better.
You can perform breathing exercises anywhere and at any time. It is recommended that you practice them for 3 minutes, but you can increase or decrease that time depending on how much stress or anxiety you feel prior to beginning. In most cases, it's a good idea to practice breathing exercises for at least 3 minutes every day. Much like how exercising your muscles strengthens them, practicing breathing exercises can strengthen the parts of your brain that are responsible for maintaining a positive mood and outlook on life.
What Can Go Wrong?
When performing deep breathing exercises, you should not experience any problems. However, if you feel light headed or dizzy during the exercises, stop immediately and allow yourself to rest for a moment before attempting them again. If this occurs every time you perform the exercises, eliminate them from your routine immediately until you are feeling healthy enough to continue without causing yourself unnecessary discomfort.
While anyone can perform breathing exercises, there are some people who should not. If you suffer from any of the following conditions, you should not practice deep breathing until you have been cleared by a medical professional:
Pregnancy
Asthma
Heart disease
Please note that this is not a substitute for professional medical advice! Please consult your doctor before beginning any new physical activity, and especially if you have been diagnosed with one of the conditions listed above.
Is It Bad to Hold Your Breath?
While holding your breath does not cause any health problems in itself, it is a practice that should not be done during deep breathing exercises. During the exercises, you must time your inhale and exhale with specific hand movements. If you hold your breath, you will throw off this timing and reduce the efficacy of the exercise.
We hope this article has been informative. Remember, breathing exercises are a great way to make you happier and healthier all in one! Please feel free to comment with any questions or concerns you may have about this information.
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