Two Breathing Exercises That Will Reduce Stress Immediately

By Sherrie Aldrich

If you are like me, sometimes the daily hectic pace of your life leaves you feeling as if you were so stiff and achy that you are a statue. Your shoulders hurt, your back aches and it is only a matter of time until the inevitable headache begins.

Muscles tighten because of inactivity, prolonged sitting in one position, excessive workouts, and a whole host of other reasons. Exposure to cold weather can also cause muscle tightness as muscles contract when you are cold creating warmth. This leaves you feeling nearly immobile and uncomfortable.

So what can you do? There are two breathing exercises that work like a charm. These can cause your body to relax and help you lose that tight feeling so that you can move more freely or fall asleep quickly.

The first exercise is just a deep breathing exercise. You want to lie flat and erase everything from your mind. Concentrate solely on your breathing. Take a deep breath and exhale. Do this 3 times. Now on the fourth deep breath, breathe deeply through your nose and hold it for 10 seconds. You can count in your mind or aloud by reciting one one thousand, two one thousand, etc. At the end of the 10 second count, slowly exhale through your mouth for a 10 second count. Now breathe normally for 10 seconds. Then repeat the deep breathing through your nose for 10 counts, holding it for 10 counts and then slowly exhaling through your mouth for 10 counts. As you continue to do this, you will feel your stress and tension melt away as your body slows the pace of everything including muscle contraction.

The second exercise is a more involved deep breathing exercise that involves your whole body. You are going to lie flat and get as comfortable as possible. Now you close your eyes and you begin to concentrate on your body. You simply breathe deeply, exhale slowly and begin to focus on first one part of your body at a time. I begin with my feet. This is like willing the muscles all over your body to cooperate and it works!

You direct all of your attention to your feet. You begin by continuing the breathing exercises and focus solely on your feet, willing them to feel calm, relaxed and at rest. You continue your way up your body, moving next to your legs. Because you are breathing and thinking of nothing but your body and your muscles, you will feel the tension start to evaporate. You will feel your muscles become more lax. It almost feels like you are in a hypnotic trance.

If you cannot lie flat, you can do this in the car or at the office. Just give yourself five to ten minutes of time that you can devote completely to your breathing and your body relaxing and you'll be amazed at how much better you feel!

Sherrie Aldrich is a freelance writer living in Ohio. http://www.incredible-ebooks.com

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