How to Relieve Stress Through Breathwork

Due to the rigors of fast-paced life, many people suffer from stress. Unfortunately, they don't have an efficient outlet for that stress until they find free time. Internalizing stress can cause conditions like depression and nervous breakdowns. You could find a solution that may be as easy as breathing properly. Follow these steps to learn how through breathwork, which proponents believe to be a quick way to relieve stress.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Telephone
• Breathwork practitioner

1. Learn how to breathe properly. If you watch how babies breathe, you'll see that they breathe with the lower portion of their lungs. Their bellies rise when they do. As they grow older, they stop breathing with the lower sections of their lungs. Instead, they rely on the top half of their lungs and become chest-breathers. Unfortunately, that portion of the lungs is shallower. Thus, it converts less oxygen. Practice breathing with the lower portion of your lungs, ensuring your belly rises rather than your chest.
2. Relieve stress with deep, slow breathing. Use the proper breathing technique from the previous step, held between five and ten seconds. Breathing with your belly ensures that more oxygen fills your lungs and thus increases the amount of oxygen that diffuses into the bloodstream. More oxygen slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes muscles. Those factors will in turn relieve stress.
3. Try combining your breathwork with a form of stress-relieving exercise, like yoga or Pilates. Proper breathing is integral to both disciplines. Instructional books or DVD's will give you helpful hints on maintaining proper breathing.
4. Relieve your stress on your own by managing your own breathing and listening to breathing instructions on CD. These audio recordings are also available through the Internet (see Resources below).
5. Find a breathwork practitioner in your area to guide you. There are different Web sites that list breathwork practitioners, like the Transformational Breathwork Directory (see Resources below). Typically, these directories will list contact information and Web site links.
6. Find more information online by visiting Web sites like the OxyGenesis Institute or the online stress management resources at LiveSTRONG.com (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Breathwork prices can range from the cost of a CD to expensive breathwork retreats. Contact your local breathwork practitioner for current rates.
• There are several forms of breathwork. Some involve deliberate hyperventilation coupled with a bombardment of sensory stimulation. During these types of breathwork, there have been reported cases of hypoxia (shortage of oxygen) and temporary insanity. Make sure that your practitioner is experienced and that your mental health is stable enough to deal with these temporary stresses.
• Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about how alternative medicine practitioners can be professionally licensed. If you decide to visit one, choose one licensed by a recognized national organization. Consult your primary health care provider about your decision first. Keep your doctor informed about the alternative medical technique you undertake.