Fitness goes beyond going to a SoulCycle or Rumble boxing class. Being fit and healthy means going to yoga class, meditating, and stretching after a workout. And it also means doing the right breathing techniques to destress after a long day.
Doing the right breathing techniques can help in so many ways. When you’re stressed about a deadline- take a few seconds to take a few deep breaths. When you wake up in the morning already feeling anxious, breathing can almost immediately calm your nerves. Breathing is something we’re so used to that we don’t realize how useful it can actually be. Here are six breathing exercises that can help you destress in no time:
Stimulating Breath
This breathing exercise increases your energy and keeps you alert:
Quickly inhale and exhale through your nose with your mouth and eyes closed. Keep the breaths as short as possible. Try 15 seconds at first and increase each time you practice.
Abdominal Breathing
Perfect for stressful situations, abdominal breathing is sure to calm you:
With one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach, breathe in deeply through your nose and let your diaphragm inflate. Repeat for 6-10 breaths for 10 minutes a day.
4-7-8 Breathing
This breathing exercise is quick and straightforward, ideal for a moment of stress that you need to quickly pass:
Exhale through your mouth. Then close your mouth and inhale through your nose for 4 seconds. Then hold your breath for 7 seconds. Last, exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds.
Alternative Nostril Breathing
This breathing technique is intended to help you refocus when a situation gets a little too hectic:
Using your thumb and ringer finger, alternate pressing each finger against each nostril. As you inhale on one side, let go of your thumb and press your ringer finger on the other side.
Equal Breathing
This is a great breathing technique to do before bed to unwind and destress:
Either sitting or lying, inhale for 4-8 counts, and exhale for 4-8 counts. Repeat as many times as necessary.
Skull Shining Breath
The ideal breathing technique to wake you up and get started for the day:
Sit in an upright position with your hands on your knees. Inhale slowly through your nose and exhale through your nose. It’s important to contract your lower belly in the exhale. Start to increase your pace to 1 inhale-exhale for every 2 seconds until you feel it’s necessary.
