Belly Breath - November 2022
Traditions • 1m 54s
This is Belly Breath. It is a state of deep breathing controlled by the diaphragm, a large muscle in our abdomen. It fills the lungs fully and counteracts shallow, stressed out breathing. When our bodies are in “fight or flight,” we engage in shallow breathing. Belly breathing reduces our heart rate, triggers a relaxation response, and slows us down. When we are born, we naturally breathe from our belly. As we get older, we start to breathe more shallowly from our chest. Place your hands on your belly. Take a deep, slow breath through your nose and let your belly rise. Breathe out as you feel your belly fall. Imagine your belly is full of water. Inhale let the waves rise in your belly and exhale let them fall. Feel your belly rise and fall with your hand as you breathe in and out. Try this 3-5 times.
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