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June 6, 2023 By Sunita Arora 3 Comments

Deep Breathing Techniques to Help You Beat Stress

deep breathing

Picture this: You’re sitting at your desk, tackling mountains of paperwork and crunching numbers on Excel like a keyboard wizard. Just when you thought you had it all under control, bam! You’re summoned to a meeting and bombarded with even more projects. Your desk is now drowning in a sea of paperwork, and you find yourself juggling tasks like a stressed-out circus performer. Deadlines loom ominously, and stress levels skyrocket. It’s like being trapped in a never-ending desk nightmare. Yikes! But fear not, for there is a simple solution to vanquish stress in this chaotic scenario: Deep Breathing!

Deep breathing is the secret weapon you’ve been searching for, and it doesn’t require any fancy equipment or a specific time and place. It’s a stress-busting technique that works wonders! When you take a moment to breathe deeply, your brain sends signals to your body, coaxing it to relax. By incorporating deep breathing into your routine, you can reap all the incredible benefits it has to offer.

What Are These Magical Benefits?

  • Zen-like Calm: Deep breathing has the power to soothe your mind and nervous system. You can literally feel the stress melt away!
  • Oxygen Boost: Ah, sweet oxygen! Deep breathing helps you take in more of this life-giving gas, nourishing your body and brain.
  • Heart Party: Your heart deserves some love, and deep breathing delivers. It lowers your heart rate, respiratory rates, and blood pressure, giving your ticker a much-needed break.
  • Sleepy Time: Need to catch some Z’s? Deep breathing is your go-to sandman. It helps you drift off to dreamland, soothes your muscles, and even speeds up your meditation mojo.
  • Stress Ninja: When tension strikes during exams, interviews, or dreaded deadlines, deep breathing comes to the rescue. Consider it your trusty stress-busting sidekick.
  • Energy Flow: Deep breathing helps clean and rejuvenate your body’s energy channels, like a refreshing spa day for your inner chi. It keeps your heating and cooling cycles in check, so you can stay balanced and invigorated.
  • Breath of Fresh Air: Say goodbye to shortness of breath! Deep breathing prevents pesky air from getting trapped in your lungs, making you feel refreshed, centered, and ready to take on the world.

Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, let’s dive into two simple yet effective deep breathing exercises.

1. Simple Abdominal Breathing Exercise

Feeling anxious? No problem! Try this relaxation technique that you can perform anywhere, anytime – standing, sitting, or lying down.

To practice this technique, you need to:

  • Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Your abdomen should expand and your chest should rise slightly.
  • 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.
  • Repeat this breathing exercise for several minutes.

Begin with just 5 minutes. If you feel 5 minutes are too long, you can start with just 2 minutes. Increase the time when you begin finding it easier and comfortable. You can practice this multiple times a day.

2. Equal Breathing

Now, let’s take deep breathing to the next level with some equal breathing magic. This technique focuses on inhales and exhales of the same duration, usually between 3 and 5 counts. Once you’ve mastered it, you can do it during yoga, or even while conquering your daily activities.

To practice this technique:

  • Take a comfortable seated position and breathe in and out through your nose only.
  • 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.
  • You can take a slight pause after each inhale and exhale if you feel comfortable (normal breathing involves a natural pause).
  • Continue practicing this breathing technique for at least 5 minutes and you can increase the duration up to 10-15 minutes.

So there you have it! Deep breathing is your ticket to a calmer, more relaxed you. Remember, stress may try to trap you at your desk, but with these breathing exercises in your arsenal, you’ll be the master of stress, deadlines, and paperwork mayhem. Take a deep breath and let the relaxation flow through your veins like a cool breeze on a sunny day. You’ve got this!

If this article helped you, let us know your thoughts in the comments below. You can find more articles and techniques to beat stress here. You can also reach out to a GOQii Coach for expert guidance by subscribing to Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce  

May 25, 2023 By Vandana Juneja Leave a Comment

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.

#BeTheForce 

May 9, 2023 By Megha Mahajan 2 Comments

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.

#BeTheForce 

August 10, 2021 By Dr. Naina Sudarshan 5 Comments

Breathing Exercises To Strengthen Lungs

breathing exercisesHave you ever wondered how many breaths we all take in our lifetime? On average we take about 675 million breaths in 80 years of life. Breathing frequency and type are different in different stages of our life depending on age, altitude, pollution levels, smoking, weather and other factors. Our lungs are the main organs of respiration as they are responsible for an exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) to keep the heart, brain, and other functioning of the body normal. Lung function and lung capacity are determined through the efficiency of exchange of oxygen (O2) and CO2 in our lungs. Any ailments with lungs can affect the health of the entire body. Have you ever thought about keeping your lungs healthy too? We can enhance lung capacity, which means the quantity of air a lung can hold. Certain breathing exercises can help the body make use of all the oxygen inhaled by our lungs in a better way. Here are three simple breathing techniques to strengthen our lung capacity.

Pursed lip breathing

Pursed lip breathing is a simple breathing exercise which helps in slowing down breathing and emptying the Lungs completely.

Method:

  • Sit in a comfortable position, relax the shoulders, neck, rest the tongue on the floor of the mouth and close your eyes gently
  • Inhale through the nose for 2-3 seconds
  • Purse your lips as when you blow the candlea
  • Breath out all the air slowly for 4-6 seconds
  • Repeat this for about 5 minutes

This type of breathing can also be done when someone feels shortness of breath during or after exercise or any heavy work which lets plenty of air in and out of the lungs that helps in restoring the normal breathing pattern.

Diaphragmatic or Belly breathing

How often in a day do we pay attention to our breathing pattern? Do you do shallow breathing or deep breathing? The diaphragm is the main sheet of muscle in between the chest and the abdomen that helps in respiration. But, usually, we develop the habit of breathing through chest, neck and shoulder muscles which limits the amount of air filling in and out of our lungs. Belly breathing strengthens the diaphragm and enhances the pulmonary efficiency. Here is the best way to train yourself for diaphragmatic breathing.

Method:

  • Lie down on your back on a flat surface with the knees bent or sit comfortably on a chair with neck, shoulder and head relaxed
  • Place your one hand lightly on your abdomen and the other hand on the chest
  • Inhale deeply through the nose for 2-3 seconds as you fill all the air towards your abdomen
  • Pay attention to the hand on the abdomen moving up while making sure hand on the chest is not moving up
  • Now exhale all the air through the mouth (Pursed lips) while tightening the abdomen inwards. Make sure the hand on your abdomen is moving down
  • Repeat this breathing for 5-10 minutes to get the maximum benefits

Alternate Nostril breathing

This is a type of deep and slow breathing in Yoga in which inhaling, and exhaling happens through alternate nostrils.  Long term practice of this breathing improves the total capacity of the lungs while boosting the pulmonary function markers. It is also meant to purify the lungs and the circulatory system throughout the body.

Method:

  • Sit straight on a flat surface with relaxed shoulders and neck
  • Start with deep inhalation and slow exhalation couple of times or for a minute
  • While folding the index and middle fingers of the right hand, make Vishnu mudra to close the right nostril with right thumb and left nostril with ring finger
  • At first, close the right nostril and slowly exhale through left nostril
  • Keep the right nostril closed and slowly inhale through the left nostril and feel all the air going upwards while filling all the air deep down till the abdomen
  • Once you inhale all the air possible, pause briefly for 2 seconds
  • Now close the left nostril with the ring finger and release thumb to open the right nostril
  • Exhale out all the air through the right nostril with a pause of 2 second at the end
  • As your still closing the left nostril, inhale slowly through the right nostril letting all the air into right side of the body with a short pause of 2 seconds at the end
  • Again, close the right nostril and open the left nostril to exhale all the air out

This is considered as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Continue this pattern for 5-10 minutes to get the maximum benefits.

Practising one or more of these breathing exercises under good guidance is proven to strengthen our lungs. Be sure to do these breathing exercises on an empty stomach as a safety measure. These are short yet very effective ways to strengthen our lungs and boost our immunity as well – a much needed thing for today’s times! 

For more breathing exercises, meditation techniques and yoga, tune in to experts on GOQii Play or get these tips directly from your GOQii Coach by subscribing to personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

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