Monday, February 6, 2012

Take 10 . . . and Breathe



Aim for 10 deep breaths in the morning, 10 at night, and as many as you need in between to help relieve stress. Here's how to do them:
Lie on your back, flat on the floor, with one hand on your belly and one hand on your chest. Lying on the floor at first when you practice is important, because if you stand up, you're more likely to fake a deep breath by doing an exaggerated chest extension, rather than letting your lungs fill up naturally.
Take a deep breath in -- slowly.
Imagine your lungs filling up with air; it should take about 5 seconds to inhale. As your diaphragm pulls down your chest cavity, your belly button should move away from your spine as your lungs fill with air. Your chest may also widen and rise ever so slightly as you inhale.
When your lungs feel full, exhale slowly -- taking about 7 seconds to let all the air out.

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