Deep Breathing Exercise |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Under stress, breathing becomes short and shallow, with the oxygen intake considerably reduced. This tendency can be countered by developing special deep breathing techniques, filling the lower half of the lungs first and using the rib-cage and diaphragm muscles to do so.
Test that you are doing this correctly by resting your fingers against the bottom of the rib-cage and breathing in - your fingers should draw apart. Hold the breath for a few seconds, then breathe out slowly and rhythmically, feeling the muscles relax as you do so.
Follow this breathing pattern when you do other exercises, and use deep breathing to relax in specially stress-prone situations - before an exam or interview, for instance, or after a shock or row.
|
||