Photo Credit: Kristin Bradley
Life is hectic, between taking care of our family and homes there is little time to relax. One method of relaxation that I find helps is deep breathing. It is a quick little break that allows me to clear my head. By quick, I mean thirty seconds to one minute of my time! This means that even super mom can relax, just a little:)
Deep Breathing can be accomplished when you are sitting, standing, or lying down. The process itself is relatively simple. You slowly breath in through your nose, "pushing" it down to your abdomen. Then you slowly exhale through your mouth, again "pushing" the breath out starting from your abdomen.
If you are not sure if you are breathing correctly put one hand on your abdomen (near your naval) and the other on your chest. The hand on you abdomen should rise significantly when you inhale, where as the hand on your chest should hardly move. Then when you exhale, the hand on your stomach should feel your muscles contract slightly as it pushes the air back out. I have found that it helps me to visualize the air filling my lungs all the way down, then the air being pushed out starting at the bottom (I learned this from a yoga instructor years ago).
Focus only on the breathing, otherwise, your mind will not relax. Now, go ahead and try it, take thirty seconds for yourself today. No one will even noticed that you "zoned out" for a little bit:)
Related articles:
Women to Women: Deep Breathing
Dr. Weil Three Breathing Exercises
Deep Breathing can be accomplished when you are sitting, standing, or lying down. The process itself is relatively simple. You slowly breath in through your nose, "pushing" it down to your abdomen. Then you slowly exhale through your mouth, again "pushing" the breath out starting from your abdomen.
If you are not sure if you are breathing correctly put one hand on your abdomen (near your naval) and the other on your chest. The hand on you abdomen should rise significantly when you inhale, where as the hand on your chest should hardly move. Then when you exhale, the hand on your stomach should feel your muscles contract slightly as it pushes the air back out. I have found that it helps me to visualize the air filling my lungs all the way down, then the air being pushed out starting at the bottom (I learned this from a yoga instructor years ago).
Focus only on the breathing, otherwise, your mind will not relax. Now, go ahead and try it, take thirty seconds for yourself today. No one will even noticed that you "zoned out" for a little bit:)
Related articles:
Women to Women: Deep Breathing
Dr. Weil Three Breathing Exercises
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