Breathing Techniques

"Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders." Andrew Weil, M.D.

The following information has been taken from http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html. While I do not necessarily endorse everything that Dr Weil proposes there is good evidence to suggest the benefits of diaphragmatic breathing on reducing stress and anxiety and promoting general health and wellbeing (see Frontiers in Psychology article doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874). My experience both personally and with my clients has been that the techniques below are beneficial. I can personally highly recommend practicing the 4,7,8 Breathing technique daily. Contraindications however may be if you suffer from health anxiety and focusing on your breath causes an increase in anxiety or if you suffer from a lung condition that limits your breathing in any way such asthma or emphysema. It is recommended that you consult your GP before attempting any breathing exercises and it may be that you need to modify the pace to suit.

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Since breathing is something we can control and regulate, it is a useful tool for achieving a relaxed and clear state of mind. I recommend breathing exercises to help relax and reduce stress: The 4-7- 8 Breathing Exercise (also called the Relaxing Breath), and Breath Counting. Try each and see how they affect your stress and anxiety levels.

The 4-7-8 (or Relaxing Breath) Exercise

This exercise is utterly simple, takes almost no time, requires no equipment and can be done anywhere. Although you can do the exercise in any position, sit with your back straight while learning the exercise. Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth, and keep it there through the entire exercise. You will be exhaling through your mouth around your tongue; try pursing your lips slightly if this seems awkward.

• Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.

• Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.

• Hold your breath for a count of seven.

• Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.

• This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.

Note that you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth. The tip of your tongue stays in position the whole time. Exhalation takes twice as long as inhalation. The absolute time you spend on each phase is not important; the ratio of 4:7:8 is important. If you have trouble holding your breath, speed the exercise up but keep to the ratio of 4:7:8 for the three phases. With practice you can slow it all down and get used to inhaling and exhaling more and more deeply. [Penelope says: I have found the longer out breath is absolutely essential. I have clients who have reported benefits from using a 4,4,7 technique and some who have started at 2,2,3 and then increased over time].

This exercise is subtle when you first try it but gains in power with repetition and practice. Do it at least twice a day. You cannot do it too frequently. Do not do more than four breaths at one time for the first month of practice. Later, if you wish, you can extend it to eight breaths. If you feel a little lightheaded when you first breathe this way, do not be concerned; it will pass. Once you develop this technique by practicing it every day, it will be a very useful tool that you will always have with you. Use it whenever anything upsetting happens - before you react. Use it whenever you are aware of internal tension. Use it to help you fall asleep. This exercise cannot be recommended too highly. Everyone can benefit from it.

Exercise 2: Breath Counting

If you want to get a feel for this challenging work, try your hand at breath counting, a deceptively simple technique much used in Zen practice. Sit in a comfortable position with the spine straight and head inclined slightly forward. Gently close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Then let the breath come naturally without trying to influence it. Ideally it will be quiet and slow, but depth and rhythm may vary.

• To begin the exercise, count "one" to yourself as you exhale.

• The next time you exhale, count "two," and so on up to "five."

• Then begin a new cycle, counting "one" on the next exhalation. Never count higher than "five," and count only when you exhale. You will know your attention has wandered when you find yourself up to "eight," "12," even "19." Try to do 10 minutes of this form of meditation.

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