"6 Different Breathing Exercises: The Fundamentals of Mastering Your Thoughts and Feelings"
Breathing Exercises: Why?
I cannot stress enough how IMPORTANT the breath is. When we are anxious, our breathing changes. We breath shallow, quickly, and irregularly.
The mind controls what our body does, but likewise, our body can control what our mind does! The body can change our feelings and thoughts. This is the basic theory of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which is used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. By changing our breath, we change the flow of chemicals in our brain.
Here are some breathing exercises you can integrate into your schedule. 10 breaths is enough. You won't need to spend a lot of time doing the exercises for them to work.
1. Observing Your Breath
Focus on your breath, coming in and out. You may get distracted by your own thoughts (this is normal). Just keep focusing on your inhalation and exhalation.
2. Deep Breathing
Lie on your back and breath in, allowing your stomach to rise to let air into your lower lungs. As the upper halves of your lungs fill with air, your chest begins to rise and stomach to lower. Exhalation will be longer than the inhalation.
3. Measuring Your Breath By Your Footsteps
Walk. Decide how many steps you want to take in your in-breath. Breath in for that number of steps, and breath out one step longer.
4. Following Your Breath
You can do this while sitting cross-legged, sitting on a chair, kneeling, lying down, or walking.
As you inhale, be aware that "I am inhaling." When you exhale, be aware that "I am exhaling."
5. Following Your Breath While Listening to Music
Breathe in and out slowly, and be aware of the sentiment and the energy of the music. Do not get lost in the music, but try to be aware of the breath while listening to music.
6. Breathing to Quiet the Mind and Body
Sitting down or walking, focus on your breath, letting thoughts to pass by without holding onto them.
Be aware that "I am breathing in and I am light and peaceful. I am exhaling and I am light and peaceful."
Or, be aware that "I am breathing in while my body and mind are at peace. I am exhaling while my body and mind are at peace."
Afterword...
Try these exercises, and see which ones you like. Just remember that merely being aware of your breath will change your mood and thoughts significantly. If you were to take one thing out of reading this post: Just start being aware of your breathing--the slower and deeper you breath, the more confident, calm, and positive you will be.
