DEEP BREATHING
Deep Breathing is one of the easiest ways to relax in the moment. Typically, adults tend to take more shallow breaths and breathe through their chest.
Taking a few minutes each day to take deep breaths, feeling it in your belly, allows you to take in more oxygen. The release of the carbon dioxide brings the body to a more calm state. This type of breathing is known as deep breathing.
- Sit in a comfortable position with your feet pressed flat, firmly on the ground.
- Place one hand on your belly button or just above and the other hand on your chest.
- Slowly inhale through your nose and feel your hand on your stomach rise. The hand on your chest should not move. Count to 4.
- Slowly exhale through your mouth and the hand on your stomach should begin to fall. Count to 4.
- Repeat this for up to 5 minutes.
Breathing For Stress Relief
ADDITIONAL BREATHING TECHNIQUES
MINDFUL MEDITATION
Mindful meditation aims to calm not only the body, but also the mind. Focusing only on your present thoughts and emotions allows you to clear your mind from past or future stressors. Practicing this method as soon as you wake or right before bed on a consistent basis can lead to long term effects to your day-to-day. An easy method to get started can be found on the Human Performance Resources by CHAMP website here.
GUIDED IMAGERY
Guided imagery uses the power of visualization to relax your mind to a calm state. By creating this relaxing experience in your mind, your body may react as if it is actually happening. When practicing guided imagery, you want to create an image that is relaxing to you. For instance, if you enjoy the going to the beach to relax. The image you create in your mind could include the sounds of the waves as they hit the shore, the seagulls flying just above the surface of the ocean or the way the sand feels between your toes as you walk towards the shoreline. Some other examples may be a starry night under the moon, sitting by warm fire or watching the sunrise in your favorite location. The objective is to be as detailed as possible to create the impression that you are there.
PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION
During stressful situations, we unknowingly tend to tense our muscles. Progressive muscle relaxation is a common method used to relieve this associated tension due to stress. This method has also been shown to reduce other body reactions from stress such has rapid heartbeat. The process of progressive muscle relaxation requires tensing parts of your body and then slowly releasing starting from your toes all the way up to your face. Depending on the level of tension, this method may take up 10 minutes to complete, so allow yourself plenty of time. For a more detailed step-by-step of this exercise please visit here.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
MOBILE APPS
Mindfulness Coach
Mindfulness means noticing and paying attention to what is going on in the present moment, without passing judgment on it. Mindfulness has been shown to be effective for reducing stress, improving emotional balance, increasing self-awareness, helping with anxiety and depression, and coping more effectively with chronic pain.
UCLA Mindful Coach
With this easy-to-use app, you can practice mindfulness meditation anywhere, anytime with the guidance of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center. Scientific research shows mindfulness can help manage stress-related physical conditions, reduce anxiety and depression, cultivate positive emotions, and help improve overall physical health and well-being.
Breath2Relax
Breathe2Relax is a portable stress management tool which provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body and instructions and practice exercises to help users learn the stress management skill called diaphragmatic breathing. Breathing exercises have been documented to decrease the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ (stress) response, and help with mood stabilization, anger control, and anxiety management.
Sources
Deep Breathing
https://www.va.gov/vetsinworkplace/docs/em_eap_exercise_breathing.asp
https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/education/factsheets/controlled-breathing-techniques.pdf
Mindful Meditation
https://www.hprc-online.org/mental-fitness/performance-psychology/mindfulness-meditation-primer
Guided Imagery
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
https://www.va.gov/vetsinworkplace/docs/em_eap_exercise_PMR.asp