It’s common advice when things get rough – “Take a deep breath and relax.” But not all deep breaths are the same.
If you’re under stress and you force yourself to take a deep breath, the tendency is to lift your shoulders and inhale into the top part of your chest. The exhale that quickly follows usually returns you to the same tense state. It’s over too soon to be of much help.
There’s a better way. Close your eyes. Breath in through your nose raising your belly to assure that the air goes deep into your lungs. Then slowly and effortlessly exhale through your mouth letting every muscle in your body relax. Make the exhale last at least twice as long as it took to inhale. Do that five times with a comfortable pause between each breath.
Ahhh. Now wasn’t that relaxing?
