As a mother, I know firsthand how stressful life can be. Between the demands of parenting, work, and everything else that comes with life, it can be easy for stress to build up and take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being. That's why I've found it so important to have a few different tools in my toolkit to help me cope with stress and find a sense of calm and appreciation in my life. One of the tools that has been particularly helpful for me is breathing exercises.
I've found that there are three different types of breathing exercises that have been particularly helpful in helping me handle stress and feel more appreciation in my body and in my life. The first is a simple deep breathing exercise. To do this, I find a quiet place where I can sit or lie down comfortably and focus on my breath. I take a deep inhale through my nose, filling my lungs with air, and then slowly exhale through my mouth. I repeat this process for a few minutes, focusing on the sensation of the breath moving in and out of my body. This simple exercise helps me to relax and bring my attention to the present moment, which can be incredibly calming in times of stress.
Another breathing exercise that I've found helpful is alternate nostril breathing. This is a more advanced technique that involves using your thumb and index finger to alternate which nostril you breathe through. To do this, I start by closing off my right nostril with my thumb and taking a deep inhale through my left nostril. Then, I close off my left nostril with my index finger and exhale through my right nostril. I repeat this process, switching back and forth between my nostrils and focusing on the sensation of the breath moving in and out of my body. This exercise helps me to balance the right and left sides of my brain and find a sense of calm and clarity.
The third breathing exercise that has been helpful for me is a technique called "4-7-8" breathing, also known as "relaxing breath." To do this, I start by exhaling fully through my mouth. Then, I take a deep inhale through my nose while counting to four in my head. I hold my breath for a count of seven, and then exhale fully through my mouth for a count of eight. I repeat this process a few times, focusing on the sensation of the breath moving in and out of my body. This exercise helps me to slow down my breath and bring a sense of calm and relaxation to my body.
Overall, I've found that these three different types of breathing exercises have been incredibly helpful in helping me handle stress and find a sense of appreciation in my body and in my life. Whether I'm feeling overwhelmed or just looking for a moment of calm, these techniques have been a valuable tool for me in finding a sense of balance and well-being.