Exercises For Stress and Anxiety - Breathing Exercises For Stress Management

Breathing exercises for stress and anxiety are very important if you want to keep yourself healthy. Unfortunately many people don't know how to do these exercises. But there are techniques that anyone can learn to control and even eliminate their stress and anxiety from their lives. It's not hard, and anybody can do them.


Breathing properly will help you physically and psychologically better. This isn't new information to you because you probably have heard that taking slow deep breaths can calm you or that inhaling essential oil can prevent panic attacks. The only difference is that when you use these methods, instead of thinking about something that's causing you stress, you focus on releasing your body from the effects of the emotions or thoughts that are affecting you. Anxiety and stress can really overwhelm you and affect your entire body physically, to the point where you might actually get sick.

These physical symptoms are also what make it difficult for so many people to write each day. This is especially true if you are suffering from severe stress or anxiety. There are a couple of ways that you can relieve your symptoms and learn to quiet your mind. One is through yoga and meditation and the other is through calming exercises like breathing and free-writing. These can be performed every day and in your spare time throughout the week.

Yoga and meditation are excellent for relieving stress. In fact they are some of the best activities you can perform to reduce stress. Yoga has a form of exercise known as yoga breathing. It is a very effective way to both calm and relax both your mind and body.

Yoga and meditation also help you to focus better. Because you are working your muscles through strength-training exercises, you develop your self-control and become more disciplined. As you exercise your mind, it becomes clear that negative feelings like anxiety, worry, and fear are caused by your emotional responses to stressful situations. By focusing your energy away from these feelings, you can allow your emotions to dissipate and you can begin to feel more centered and balanced again.

Another exercise you can do that will help you relax is breathing exercises. When you are stressed or anxious, your breathing slows down and you are tense. Breathing exercises are perfect for alleviating stress and anxiety. When you breathe deeply and slowly from your diaphragm, you relax your muscles more than if you were to breathe from your chest or stomach. This gives you a calmer feeling.

To get started, lie on your back, with your legs propped up on a pillow. Close your eyes and start breathing from your diaphragm, or just as if you were breathing from your chest. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose, then out slowly through your mouth, repeating several times. Start when you feel your heart rate is picking up and work your way slowly up to your maximum heart rate in one minute. You can increase the intensity of your breathing exercises by starting at a lower heart rate.


Try some of the other mindfulness exercises for stress and anxiety: smiling, relaxing, chewing, singing, walking, and breathing slowly. If you cannot sit still or concentrate very clearly, take a short walk, practice yoga, or practice meditation. Take control of your reactions to stressful situations by breathing deeply and repeating a phrase or two in your head, or saying to yourself, "I am calm." When you take control of your reaction to stress, you will reduce your symptoms and you will feel more calm.