Have you ever had one of those days where you were so stressed that you felt like you could use some help to save your sanity? Maybe your boss gave you a new project forgetting that you were already swamped with existing work? Or maybe your family brought you problem after problem without acknowledging your fatigue? Maybe you're trying to figure out the next step in your life's journey and you're not sure which direction to take or if you're on the right path? Life can give us a lot of things to deal with and sometimes you may have difficulty coping.
If this is you, you’ll be pleased to discover a strategy you can use to reduce stress and improve your health at the same time! This strategy is easy and convenient, and it’s called deep breathing.
What exactly is deep breathing? Deep breathing is a breathing exercise that involves manipulating the breath in ways that bring about certain feelings on an emotional level.
There are various deep breathing exercises that are designed for:
Developing the mind and the body
Helping you enter a state of meditation
Bringing on a healthy sweat, enabling you to feel revived
No matter what emotion you’re trying to achieve with your breathing exercises, the beauty is that it doesn’t cost you anything to breathe. But when is it appropriate to do breathing exercises? And how often can they be done?
When To Do Deep Breathing Exercises
There are no hard and fast rules stipulating when to do breathing exercises. It really depends on what you’re wishing to achieve by doing them and what you're feeling at the moment.
You can use breathing exercises at any time to:
Achieve a state of calm
Feel alive, invigorated, and ready for your day
Reduce stress in tense situations
Wind down at the end of the day
When you wake up in the morning, you may wish to do some quick deep breathing exercises to feel invigorated and ready to go. You can go outside, take a deep breath, and then breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth.
This breathing exercise can serve as a workout for your abdominal muscles and lungs. It can make you feel quite refreshed at the beginning of your day and provides a similar effect to taking a morning jog.
When you’re having a rough day at work or dealing with conflict, you can use a few calming breaths to help reduce stress. Sit back, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Hold it in and then let it out. Repeat the process until you feel relaxed.
Health Benefits of Breathing Exercises
If you just need a quick lift, then you’ll only need to spend a short time here and there doing some deep breathing exercises. On the other hand, if you’re looking to have a significant impact on your health and serenity, you can form a routine of several breathing exercises throughout your day.
Whatever the duration, breathing exercises can bring you many health benefits, including:
Reduce your blood pressure
Calm your nerves
Tighten your core muscles
Aid in better digestion
Aid in the elimination of waste and toxins
Bring you higher levels of energy
Increase your awareness of the functions within your body
Reduce stress
Your own results will depend upon the type and frequency of breathing exercises you use.
Anyone Can Benefit From Breathing Exercises
Breathing exercises can benefit just about anyone. The only individuals who should take extreme caution are those with respiratory issues. Always check with your physician before attempting these exercises.
Nevertheless, sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy the relaxing effects that deep breathing can provide. It’s an effective solution to reduce stress, bring you peace, and improve your life.