Description:

What is deep breathing? Also known as diaphragmatic breathing, deep breathing is quick technique to help you relax and ease your stress levels. Some benefits of deep breathing include:

• Lower stress levels

• Reduce muscle tensions

• Lower blood pressure

• Better sleep

Tasks:

Let’s get started! The great thing about deep breathing is that it can be done anywhere and anytime of the day.

• Sit in a comfortable position with your hands on your knees and your shoulders relaxed. Breathing begins with exhaling because you cannot fully inhale until your lungs are completely empty.

• Breathe in through your nose

• While counting to 5, exhale slowly through your nose.

• Tighten your abdominal muscles.

• At the end of your breath, pause for 2 seconds, then inhale slowly while you count to five.

• Expand your belly as you breathe in

• Close your eyes and repeat five to 10 times.

If your mind wanders during this exercise, don’t worry. Just slowly bring your attention back to your breathing. After you’ve completed the exercise, pause where you are and reflect on how you feel. Do you feel lighter? Less stressed? Write down how you feel after having done this exercise to encourage you to do more in the future.

Resources:

Learn more about deep breathing.

• Watch this TedTalks video of a professional yogi, Stacey​ ​Schuerman,​ ​and​ ​she​ ​will​ ​leads​ ​you​ ​through​ ​an exercise​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​reset,​ ​renew,​ ​and​ ​rejuvenate​ ​our​ ​energy.

Want to practice​ ​deep​ ​breathing​ ​with​ ​guidances?​ ​Here​ ​are​ ​videos​ ​that​ ​you​ ​can​ ​watch​ ​as​ ​you​ ​practice​ ​deep breathing.

• Deep​ ​Breathing​ ​Exercises​ ​for​ ​Caregivers

• Morning​ ​Deep​ ​Breathing

If​ ​you’re​ ​on-the-go,​ ​here​ ​are​ ​a​ ​few​ ​deep​ ​breathing​ ​apps​ ​you​ ​can​ ​download​ ​for​ ​free:

• Breathes

• Paced​ ​Breathing