Using Breath as a Relaxation Exercise
During stressful times it’s great to have a relaxation exercise to calm our nervous systems. 1-minute calm breathing can really help.
Lockdown and the worries associated with Covid-19 can make us all feel extra anxious.
So take a minute with us to have a breather.
Using Breath to Calm our Bodies and Minds
One of the fastest ways to tell your body it is safe is by slowing your breath. We often tell our Urgent Care patients to use relation exercises like calm breathing as many people coming to our clinic have had an accident or stressful situation to deal with. It’s really useful to understand stress and how to manage it.
Breathwork is so important. When your exhale is longer than your inhale, you start switching on your parasympathetic nervous system – our rest and recovery response. We encourage breathing in lightly through your nose and focusing on the exhale.
Breathe with us for a minute.
Here are some breathing tips for helping whānau or yourself calm down in an emergency or in extended times of heightened anxiety-like Lockdown:
- Aim to gently inhale through your nose. This helps filter and warm the air. That nasal filtration is extra important right now with Covid-19 and RSV in our community.
- Pause before you exhale, giving you a moment to allow for gas exchange: more oxygen gets into your blood, and more Carbon dioxide can leave the blood.
- Slowly exhale out of your nose, or through pursed lips to control the flow. A longer exhale that fully empties the lungs allows us to clear out any stale air or unneeded toxins. Think of it like emptying the waste basket!
This relaxation exercise of 1 minute Calm Breathing can help you to pace yourself.
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