In the world today, being overworked, anxious, and stressed has become more of a common day-to-day experience. The light at the end of the tunnel, however, is something as simple as ‘just breathing’ can be a powerful exercise that combats overwhelming emotions.

Breathing exercises have been practiced by various cultures for centuries and is regarded as a powerful practice even amongst popular modern wellness gurus like Gwyneth Paltrow or the Ice Man himself, Wim Hof.

Let’s take a look at how to use breathing to effectively ease anxiety:

The benefits of breathing

Breathing exercises are all about intentionally filling your lungs to their capacity and slowly exhaling, in patterns. By practicing breathwork regularly, you’ll start to notice fascinating benefits.

Less anxiety and stress: When the body feels stress, it goes straight into survival mode which puts a huge amount of stress on your nervous system. When breathing deeply you activate a relaxed response which in essence allows the body to become calm.

Better oxygen supply: When breathing incorrectly it restricts the oxygen’s ability to reach all the necessary organs in your body. By breathing more intentionally, it allows the oxygen to reach your brain and allows for overall well-being. By practicing deep breaths it allows your body and mind to think. much clearer.

Improved focus and mental clarity: When you have an anxious day your mind sometimes feels overwhelmed and a bit foggy which is a completely normal result of anxiety. When focusing on your breathing it creates a space for your mind to become more focused and intentional.

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Practice these breathing exercises:

Here are some useful breathing exercises for you to try:

Diaphragmatic breathing

@dr.maehughes How to diaphragmatically breathe #pelvicfloorpt #diaphragmaticbreathing #postpartumrecovery #pelvicfloorexercises ♬ original sound – Dr. Mae Hughes, DPT

4-7-8 technique

@weliveconscious If you struggle with falling asleep, this breathing technique will help ease your mind and get you ready for bed in no time! Save this video to try it tonight and let us know if it worked! #weliveconscious #breathingtechnique #sleepingtips #fallasleeptip #sleepbreathwork ♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) – Danilo Stankovic

Box breathing

@breathingexercises Anxiety relief exercise! #anxiety #anxietyrelief #anxietyrelieftips #anxietyreliever #stressrelief #panicattack #breathingexervises #breathing #deepbreaths #breathwork #relaxation #calmdown #breathingpractice #breathingguide ♬ original sound – Breathing Exercises

Happy breathing!

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Just keep breathing – discover the Wim Hof breathing method for wellness

Feature Image: Unsplash