Have you ever noticed that if you consciously stop what you are doing and notice your breathing pattern, that the simple act of paying attention can slow down your breathing – without even trying. You can consciously choose to create a relaxed, rested state within your body also, just by practicing the following 10 step breathing process:
- Close your eyes
- Roll your shoulders forward and back a few times – notice and release any muscle tension
- Take a few breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth – sighing, as you breathe out
- Place your hands on your belly
- Breathe in deeply so you feel your belly expand (this activates and expands the diaphragm)
- Breath out slowly through your nose until you have exhaled all the air from your belly (draw belly button in at the end)
- Repeat steps 4 & 5 three times
- Take in seven more belly breaths – inhaling for a count of 4 and exhaling for a count of 4, then exhale for a count of 5, then 6, then 7, then 8
- Inhale for a count of 4 and exhale for a count of 8 three more times.
- Open your eyes and notice how you feel.
These things work because we are slowing down our breath which “tricks” our mind into believeing we are safe and not under threat because after all, if you were under threat you wouldn’t be breathing slowly and calmly. Consequently the Parasympathetic Nervous System is activated and you go into a state of “Rest and Digest”. If you want to know more about this restful state and other activities that promote this restful physiological state, click here: https://thenaturalhealer.com.au/the-dangers-of-chronic-stress/