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2 Breathing Techniques For Better Sleep

breathing techniques for better sleepDo you have trouble getting sleep despite the fact that you are tired? Sleeping well is an art. It needs a perfect blend of healthy habits and control of mind. A clean body and mind, relaxed mood, physical exercises, and perfect dietary control are some of the basic sleep-inducing methods. However, one of the best ways to bring the body into its relaxed state is – BREATHING! How do breathing techniques for better sleep work? Let’s find out!

Breathing Techniques For Better Sleep

Breathing deeply has been proven to affect the heart, the brain, digestion, the immune system and even the expression of genes. Research has shown that breathing exercises like Pranayama can have immediate effects by altering the pH of the blood, or changing blood pressure. But, more importantly, they can be used as a method to train the body’s reaction to stressful situations and dampen the production of harmful stress hormones and help induce sleep.

Here are 2 important breathing methods to calm the mind and induce sleep naturally.

1.  The 4-7-8 Technique

How To Do It?
This process is recommended by Dr. Andrew Weil, a practitioner and teacher of integrative medicine for the last thirty years. To do this exercise, sit up in bed with your back straight or lie down on a straight back and press the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth right behind your front teeth. Maintaining that position, close your mouth and inhale through your nose for four counts, hold that breath for seven counts, and then exhale through your mouth around your tongue for eight counts. Repeat this pattern until you have completed four full breaths.

How It Works?
The 4-7-8 breathing technique is effective because it encourages the fast removal of carbon dioxide. Doing so equates into a better preservation of the bicarbonate pool; our reservoirs for helping maintain an appropriate pH balance. Also, it allows the lungs to become fully charged with air, allowing more oxygen into the body, which promotes a state of calm.

2. Left Nostril Breathing 

How To Do It?
Simply take your right hand and with your fingers outstretched, block off your right nostril by putting gentle pressure on it with your right thumb.  Be sure to keep the rest of your fingers straight and pointing up. With a long, slow, deep breath, gently inhale through your left nostril.  Then, just as gently, exhale long, slowly and completely, again through the left nostril. Do this for at least 3 minutes; chances are you might doze of even before that!

How It Works?
When we’re under stress or feeling anxious, we tend to breathe mostly out of our right nostril, which is connected to our left brain. This activates our sympathetic nervous system, the channel responsible for the classic stress response – dilated pupils, increased core temperature, sweating, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. And when we start breathing through the left nostril the parasympathetic system gets activated which slows us down and helps our body automatically run its day to day jobs of digestion, elimination, sleep cycles and more.

Apart from these 2 breathing techniques for better sleep, you can also try meditation or mindfulness by just observing your breath as it goes in and as it comes out. Connecting with this rise and fall of the breath, and noticing where you feel that breath move within the body can help you begin the process of relaxing tense muscles and create a coherent heart pattern which brings an instant state of tranquil and helps you drift off to peaceful deep sleep.

We hope this article helps you sleep better! Do you meditate before you go to bed? What helps you sleep better? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on sleep, check out Healthy Reads or you can get tips directly from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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Deep Breathing Techniques to Help You Beat Stress

deep breathing

Imagine being seated at your desk, going through the essential paperwork and working your way through those excel sheets like a keyboard wizard and then suddenly, you’re pulled into a meeting and briefed about another project. More paperwork fills your desk and now you’re multitasking. Deadlines get closer and stress levels soar higher. There’s no escape. You’re trapped at your desk. In such a scenario, high levels of stress do very little for your wellbeing. So how do you beat stress in a similar situation? The answer is simple – Deep Breathing!

Deep breathing is very easy to learn and the best part is that there’s no restriction on where and when you can do it. You don’t even need any special equipment. It is a great way to lower stress levels. When you breathe deeply, your brain sends signals to your body to calm down and relax. When you do deep breathing regularly, you can reap all the benefits it has to offer.

Benefits of Deep Breathing

  • Deep breathing calms the mind and the nervous system, triggering deep relaxation.
  • It helps you increase the intake of oxygen which nourishes the body and brain.
  • It lowers heart rate, respiratory rates and blood pressure.
  • Practising good deep breathing exercises helps you fall asleep, soothes muscles and gets you in meditation mode faster.
  • It’s a handy tool when you are tense or stressed during exams, interviews, meeting deadlines and so on.
  • Deep breathing helps clean and rejuvenate our vital channels of energy and regulates the heating and cooling cycles of the body.
  • Deep breathing also helps in relieving shortness of breath by preventing air from getting trapped in your lungs. You then have fresher air which makes you feel more relaxed and centred.

Breathing Exercises You Can Practice Easily

Let’s look at 2 very simple types of deep breathing exercises which are simple yet effective.

1. Simple Abdominal Breathing Exercise
Whenever you start feeling anxious, try this simple abdominal breathing relaxation technique. You can perform this exercise as often as needed. It can be done standing up, sitting down, or lying down.

How To Practice:

  1. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Your abdomen should expand and your chest should rise very little.
  2. Exhale slowly through your mouth. As you blow the air out, purse your lips slightly, but keep your jaw relaxed. You may hear a soft “whooshing” sound as you exhale.
  3. Repeat this breathing exercise for several minutes.
  4. Begin with just 5 minutes. If you feel 5 minutes are too long, you can start with just 2 minutes.
  5. Increase the time when you begin finding it easier and comfortable. You can practice this multiple times a day.

2. Equal Breathing
Equal breathing is one the breathing technique which focuses on making inhales and exhales with the same length between 3 and 5 counts. Once you get used to equal breathing, you can do it during your yoga practice or with other daily activities.

How To Practice:

  1. Take a comfortable seated position and breathe in and out through your nose only.
  2. Count during each inhale and exhale to make sure they are even in duration. Alternatively, choose a word or short phrase to repeat during each inhale and exhale.
  3. You can take a slight pause after each inhale and exhale if you feel comfortable (normal breathing involves a natural pause).
  4. Continue practicing this breathing technique for at least 5 minutes and you can increase the duration up to 10-15 minutes.

Now that most of you are back in the office, we hope these deep breathing techniques help you calm your mind and reduce stress! For more tips on how to beat stress, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Do leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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5 Breathing Exercises To Relieve Anxiety In An Instant

breathing exercises to relieve anxiety Many individuals experience anxiety, which can have a significant impact on their lives. When feeling anxious, symptoms such as increased heart rate, shallow and rapid breathing, and heightened tension often arise. However, there are effective methods to alleviate anxiety, such as engaging in breathing exercises.

Breathing exercises are straightforward yet potent techniques that enable individuals to regulate their breathing and achieve a state of mental calmness. By directing attention to the breath, it becomes possible to slow down the heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and alleviate muscle tension. Here are a few breathing exercises that can help relieve anxiety.

1. Diaphragmatic Breathing

Also referred to as belly breathing or deep breathing, diaphragmatic breathing involves inhaling deeply into the abdomen. This technique aids in slowing down the breathing process and activating the relaxation response.

To practice diaphragmatic breathing, find a comfortable position by lying down on your back or sitting on a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Then, place one hand on your chest and place the other on your belly. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nostrils, noticing the expansion of your belly as you breathe in. Now, exhale through your mouth slowly while feeling your belly contract. Repeat this exercise for a few minutes, concentrating on your breath and the sensations in your body.

2. Box Breathing

Box breathing, also known as square breathing, involves following a pattern of inhaling for four counts, holding the breath for four counts, exhaling for four counts, and holding the breath again for four counts. This technique aids in regulating breathing and calming the mind.

To practice box breathing, assume a comfortable position with a straight back and your feet flat on the ground. Take a gradual breath in through your nostrils, ensuring a slow count to four. Hold your breath for four counts. Next, exhale through the mouth slowly for four counts. Before you inhale again, pause and hold your breath for a count of four. Repeat this exercise for a few minutes. Be sure to focus on your breath and the sensations in your body.

3. Coherent Breathing

The goal of coherent breathing is to slow down the breathing rate to five breaths per minute. This pattern of breathing helps lower heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in a calmer nervous system.

Sit comfortably and inhale through your nose, expanding your belly for a count of five. Without pausing at the top of the inhale, immediately begin exhaling to a count of six. Repeat this sequence at least five times to complete a full-minute cycle. If inhaling or exhaling for this length of time is challenging, start with a three-count and gradually increase.

4. Alternate Nostril Breathing

Also known as Nadi Shodhana in Sanskrit, alternate nostril breathing involves inhaling and exhaling through one nostril at a time to balance the flow of energy. This technique helps quiet the mind and emotions.

To practice Nadi Shodhana, sit upright in a comfortable position with a straight spine. Bring your right hand in front of your face, placing your index and middle fingers between your eyebrows for stability. During the exercise, you will block either the left or right nostril using your thumb and ring finger. Close your eyes and block the right nostril with your thumb. Inhale slowly through the left nostril for a count of four, take a brief pause, and exhale through the right nostril for a count of four. Perform this cycle for a minimum of five repetitions.

5. Victory Breath

Victory breath, also known as Ujjayi Breath, derives its name from the Sanskrit term and is often associated with the soothing sound resembling waves crashing against the shore, hence referred to as ocean breath.

To practice this technique, find a comfortable upright position with a straight spine and hands resting in your lap. Keep your mouth closed and begin by inhaling through your nose for a count of 4, gently constricting the airflow to the back of your throat during the inhale. After reaching the top of the inhale, pause for a second before exhaling. Constrict your throat slightly and exhale slowly to a count of 6. Repeat this exercise for 5-10 repetitions.

In conclusion, breathing exercises provide a simple yet effective means to manage anxiety. Through regular practice, you can develop the ability to regulate your breathing and cultivate a calm mind, ultimately promoting a sense of relaxation and ease. So, take a few moments each day to focus on your breath and embrace the numerous benefits of these powerful techniques.

If this article helped you, let us know in the comments below! Find more articles on breathwork and yoga here. You can also get these techniques and more from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

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Can Pranayama Techniques Cool Your Body During Summer?

Can pranayama cool your body during summer

Are you using lots of water, cool drinks, air-conditioning or beach parties to beat the heat this summer? Would you be interested to know about an easy and inexpensive way to chill instead? If yes, then read this article to learn three different breathing techniques to cool down your body. Yes! You read it right. All you need to do is breathe! Here’s how Pranayama techniques can cool your body during summer! 

Pranayama Techniques To Cool Your Body 

Try these breathing techniques and beat the heat naturally with Pranayama!

1. Increased Rate & Depth of Breathing

Preferably lie down in Shavasana and practice deep diaphragmatic breathing, allowing the belly to rise with each inhalation. Make sure to increase your breathing rate too. A modified version of doing it is panting like a dog. Just open your mouth and stick out your tongue as far as it can go, then start panting. Make sure that your stomach goes in or contracts immediately with each exhalation. 

Why does it work?
We sweat a lot during the summers. The evaporation of sweat cools down our body. In the same ways, with an increased rate and depth of breathing, we exhale a lot more water vapour. It enhances the cooling effect of the body. Now you know why dogs don’t sweat? They stick out their tongue and release the heat. More breaths and less movement ensures the double advantage of cooling your pace.

2. Sheetali Pranayama

Stick your tongue out and roll it like a straw. Inhale air through this straw as if you were sipping in a cool beverage on a hot summer day. Exhale through the nose. Sheetkari pranayama is a modified version of Sheetali, which can be done if you are unable to roll your tongue. Here you have to open your mouth with clenched teeth to inhale through them and exhale through the nose.

Why does it work?
When we breathe in through the nose, the air gets warmed up on its path to the lungs to match the internal body temperature. While we breathe in through the mouth, this doesn’t happen. On the contrary, the air gets moistened when we inhale through the mouth, enhancing its cooling effects.

3. Left Nostril Breathing

Use your right-hand fingers to block the right nostril and breathe through the left nostril. An easier way to activate the left nostril breathing is to insert a cotton plug in the right ear.

Why does it work?
Our body temperature is maintained by the movement of air through the right and left channels. The right channel is associated with sun, heat and activity. Whereas the left channel is associated with the moon, cool and rest. It is like the accelerator and brake pedals of a car. Applying the brakes gently slows down and cools off the overheated car engines. Similarly, when we deliberately breathe in through the left nostril, the brakes get applied to activate the parasympathetic nervous system to produce a cooling and calming effect on the body.

And there it is! We hope these 3 pranayama techniques will help you cool your body during these hot summer days. Try them and let us know your experience in the comments below.

Get more summer tips here or you can also speak to an expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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