We all get to that point, where stress and frustration have hit an all new high and we feel lost. Recently, I went to a course at the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing and we talked a lot about stress and how is impacts all of us. Some of us know how to manage our stress, but some of us struggle. Stress is our bodies fight or flight response. Stress can be triggered several different ways: running late, traffic, money problems, work, your health and so many more. We all respond to stress differently, feeling tired, change in eating habits, aches and pains, anger, anxiety, depression, increase in tobacco, drugs etc. Simple things can help us manage our stress, resting, meditating, exercising, taking time to yourself, drinking water and asking for help. Or one thing we practiced in the course was deep breathing, below is the exercise we used. It is simple and it really only took me a minute to feel completely relaxed and like I could take on whatever was coming my way.
Deep Natural Breathing
Deep natural breathing is a powerful and simple relaxation technique. It can be used to self-manage symptoms like pain and anxiety.
- Sit or lie on your back with your feet and hands uncrossed
- Begin to bring your thoughts and attention to your breath
- This may mean just feeling where your breath come in and out of your nose
- Put one hand on your abdomen (if indicated)
- Inhale deeply through your nose, allowing your lungs to completely fill and your belly to expand, moving your hand outward
- As you being to exhale slowly, concentrate on making a whooshing sound with pursed lips
- Try to exhale twice as long as your inhale
- Repeat several times in a slow, deliberate manner
- This can be practiced for 1 to 2 minutes several times a day
We can do this at our desks, breaks or whenever we have a minute or two.