Stress: The Power of Deep Breathing
From the day we are born, to the day we die, we breathe. As a part our involuntary body functions, breathing is done without any thought or attention. Make no mistake, however, this essential function we take for granted is very complex. Research has shown that simple adjustments to our breathing can actually improve our overall health and reduce our stress levels. When under stress, our breathing tends to become more frequent and shallow. In contrast to this innate reaction, whose origins stem from our “fight or flight” response, to relax one needs to focus on slow, deep breaths.