I think we can all agree that we are in one, if not the most, stressful times we have ever experienced. Although we cannot control current events, we can take charge of our bodies with movement and exercise to help with stress. But did you know that it only takes 30 seconds to release muscle tension?
You can breathe away stress wherever you are. Sometimes a nice deep breath, (actually four deep breaths), is just what we need to relax our shoulders, neck and back where we most often first feel the signs of stress on our body. This technique is easy to do. Anywhere. Anytime. And its FREE!
- Sit up properly.
- Place hands on your lower ribs, fingers lining up with your ribs and pointing in towards one another.
- Take a deep breath in through your nose, imagine that you are slowly sucking air in through a long straw that starts just behind your nose, goes down the throat and fills the lungs. Feel your lower ribs expand out to the sides as your lungs fill with air (this should take 5-8 counts).
- Picture a balloon in your belly and slowly begin to press the air out of the balloon by squeezing your ABS in, pushing the air up through the straw, and out through the mouth (again this takes 5-8 counts).
- As soon as all the breath has been completely emptied, give your ABS an extra squeeze for additional transverse abdominal work.
Repeat four times and within minutes you will feel tension lift from your shoulders, neck and back. You’ll naturally sit straighter, thus helping to improve your poster (and you’ll naturally breath more efficiently) plus fueling your blood and brain with energizing oxygen will allow you to focus better. If this is the first time you’re trying this technique, you may get a little lightheaded, but with practice you’ll feel the benefits more each time.
