Breathing Exercises

Focus on how you body feels.

Focus on your chest. Then focus lower – toward your diaphragm.

Pay attention to your breathing – slow it down.

You can try counting – in 2 3 4, out 2 3 4. Some people count up to 8.

If you count in to 4, try counting out to  double that – 8.

See if you can drop your shoulders. Relax your face.

To have this help you, you need to practice it.

Even a few minutes per day will be good because you are beginning to retrain your body to relax.

Hint: are you stuck on a boring meeting? Practice your breathing. Practice it at stoplights. Better yet, find a time to practice twice a day – build up over time.

Some people add relaxing words they say to themselves, or music.