Our yoga teacher said something before class the other day that got our attention. She said that in the next hour we’d be inhaling more oxygen than most women do in an entire day. Instead of taking little sips of air, we’d be nourishing every cell in our bodies with life-giving breath. And that’s one of the simple reasons yoga (and exercise in general) makes us feel good.
If you could use a little more serenity and energy (and who couldn’t?!), try the following exercises (most of which are outlined in the book Perfect Breathing) whenever you need to relax, focus, or reconnect. With a little practice, they’ll become instinctive and you’ll (finally) be able to breathe easy.
Remain calm. This exercise counteracts the rush of adrenaline that comes on in fearful situations and will keep you cool. Inhale through your nose for 3 seconds. Purse your lips and exhale to a count of 10 (or however long you can) while letting your cheeks puff. Get every last bit of air out of your lungs. Repeat until you’ve settled down.
Stay healthy. The next time you’re in coach surrounded by sniffling people, try periodically doing this. Studies done with AIDS patients show it helps increase white-blood-cell count and discourages infections. Inhale while visualizing your breath entering the top of your head and becoming a ball of cleansing energy. Hold it there for a few seconds then exhale it down through your body and out your feet. Repeat 3 times.
Fall asleep faster. This routine helps reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and a racing mind. Inhale through your nose for a count of 6. Hold for a count of 3. Exhale through your nose for a count of 6. Hold for a count of 3. Repeat this series 4 more times then…. Inhale through your nose for a count of 6. Exhale through your nose for a count of 6. Repeat this series 4 more times. Sweet dreams!
Heal injury. Research shows that concentrating on sending energy to a particular spot actually helps improve blood flow to that area. Inhale and imagine your breath as water rushing to the ache. Hold it there for a few seconds, then exhale.
Perform better under pressure. Need to relax and quickly focus on an important task? Athletes often use this exercise. Close your eyes and inhale through your nose for a count of 2. Hold for a count of 1. Exhale through your nose for a count of 2. Hold for a count of 1. Continue doing so while visualizing yourself successfully completing the task. Conclude with an affirmation like, “Let’s do this!”
Reconnect with your man. This bedtime exercise will bring the two of you together. While spooning on your left side, close your eyes and breathe together: 2 seconds in, 2 seconds hold, 2 seconds out, 2 seconds hold, etc. (all through the nose). Before long the two of you will become one. What happens next is your decision…
Comments from Members
I regularly practice breathing as a calming tool and to get much needed sleep and this article takes breating a few steps farther. I intend to try the healing excercise for my arthritis.
This helps with headaches as well. I have tried the breathing technique where you breathe in for a few seconds and then breathe out thru your mouth instead of your nose and this seems to help with tension which in turn also helps lessen the headache.
Great suggestions!
Something everyone can use....thanks for the tips.
All great advice and good reasons to work on one's breathing, but why would you assume a woman wishes to reconnect with her man?? Not all of your subscribers are heterosexual. That's a pretty big assumption to be making.
The deep breathing to calm yourself really works and have practiced it for over a year. Unbelievable how much difference can be made by concentrating on your breath.
Thanks for the tip I sometimes have trouble getting to sleep.
I've been doing yoga for 3 or 4 years now and truely believe that deep breathing helps relax and de-stress you
Great tools for calming a racing mind. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent tips! Can't wait to share them with my friends!
Definitely works. Especially in stressfull situations to help lower blood pressure!
I can't wait to try these--Thank you!
I've practiced yoga for over 25 years and agree that deep breathing is benefical in many areas.Heidi
wish more people out there would read this. There are alot out there who could benefit from the stress reducing techiques
I think this kind of thing does help. Acupuncture and other things too!
I must try these,especially the calming,great tips thanks...
love this!!
I and my son we both together do Yoga excercises and Yoga Breathing too and it helps alot.You can overcome all your diseases through nostril breathing,you become calm.Your body, mind and spirit become very healthy. Every one should practice these every day.
I like this, used to do breathing exercises, starting again. Thanks
I'm trying the breathing for sleep tonight. Sure hope it works. A lot on my mind right now.
Thank you for the info!
- Eileen said:
All great advice and good reasons to work on ones breathing, but why would you assume a woman wishes to reconnect with her man?? Not all of your subscribers are heterosexual. Thats a pretty big assumption to be making.
your right, I guess we are so trained to thinking traditionally one way, we classifly everything in one group. It's kinda like when we say " come on guys, let go do something", even if it's with women. habits die hard.
It really does help and I was surprised at how much it does. I don't go to the extreme of counting in the bedroom before sleep, but I do, do the deep breathing. Seems to relax me more.
What an awesome idea I will be using this all day long to make myself feel better LOL and help out with my love life. we all could be closer right? LOL Thanks for posting this.
- Eileen said:
All great advice and good reasons to work on ones breathing, but why would you assume a woman wishes to reconnect with her man?? Not all of your subscribers are heterosexual. Thats a pretty big assumption to be making.
Oh Please do some people have to take everything so personal. Or literal for that matter????
