Breathing Deeply

We’ve all heard the term, “take a breather” and we most likely have different thoughts about what it really means. What do you think of? Maybe a breathless athlete taking a much-needed water break from a hot, long grueling practice--or maybe an employee waiting for a long-awaited work break. Regardless of the context, we all know how important it is to take “time out” to recover and replenish the energy and oxygen our bodies need to be at our very best. 

Webster’s definition of “a breather” is “a pause for rest” and for today  we will be focusing on how to literally “take a breather” to bring balance back to your life. We look at it as trained tranquility!

Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain and body to calm down and relax. We look at it as trained tranquility!

So go ahead; take a deep breath right now… inhale through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth. Ahhh! By taking a deep cleansing breath (slowly inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth) you will enhance your health physically as well as psychologically in more ways than you can imagine. Multiple studies demonstrate regular deep breathing aides in:

• Decreasing depression, anxiety, and stress
• Lowering blood pressure
• Strengthening the immune system
• Promoting better sleep
• Normalizing heart rate and rhythm
• Oxygenating the brain, nourishing your muscles
• Reducing fatigue and increases energy

Did you know, a study at Chicago’s Rush University tested 89 people with high blood pressure providing them with a computerized musical device to help them learn how to lower their breathing rate. The patients who used it about 15 minutes per day for eight weeks had an astounding 15-point drop in blood pressure in just eight weeks!

The American Institute of Stress recommends taking 10 to 20 minutes a day to practice deep breathing and relaxation. But if that sounds like too much, to begin with, think “small breaks”…

…simply integrating deep breathing into your day by practicing while you are doing other activities such as driving, preparing for a meeting, or getting ready to meet a friend. Taking deep slow cleansing breaths throughout your day will significantly reduce stress while increasing the needed energy and balance you need to be your best.