Sigh-of-Relief Breath

Sigh-of-Relief Breath – Haaaaaa… You know that sweet sigh of relief your body instinctively does when you finally relax and let go? That’s a signal that the parasympathetic nervous system is kicking in and healing the stressed out parts of you.

Our breath is automatic, magically adjusting to match our state of being. When we’re anxious or upset, the breath becomes short and shallow to support our “fight or flight” response. When we are relaxed, the rhythm of the breath slows and deepens, activating our “rest and digest” response.

We don’t ever have to consciously think about breathing. The body just does it for us. And while the breath automatically matches our state, we can also CONTROL it to change our state!

Benefits: One of the best ways I know to quickly calm down is by practicing Sigh-of-Relief breath. It calms the mind and activates the body’s relaxation response; changes your demeanor and lightens your mood. This technique also strengthens the diaphragm and stretches the lungs.

How to: Close your eyes and take a slow deep inhale through the nose. Notice when you are almost done inhaling, and then inhale more air than you usually do. Hold the breath in for 2 seconds. On your exhale, relax the jaw and breathe out an open mouth with a sighing sound. Exhale more air than you usually do and hold the breath out for 2 seconds. Repeat this 3-10 times.

Mantra: “I inhale to receive, and exhale to let go.”