There are more breathing exercises and variations, than any other type we feature on this site. There are only so many ways you can do a press up or sit up, for example, but there are probably hundreds of different breathing exercises.
Our suggestion? Try and find, and learn, as many as you can. Try and do as many as you can, on a regular basis, and practice, practice, practice.
Also, try to become aware of your breathing, so you can adapt the specific exercises into your normal activities.
Here are three to help get you started:
Pursed lips
Practice using this several times per day.
Relax your entire body, trying to find a calm focused mind position. Keep your mouth closed, then inhale slowly through your nose for 2 counts.
Pucker or purse your lips as though you were going to whistle.
Exhale slowly by blowing air through your pursed lips for a count of 4. Repeat 5-6 times.
Deep Breathing
This is a slightly more pronounced technique, then the one above.
Draw your elbows back slightly, allowing your chest to become bigger.
Inhale deeply through the nose.
Hold your breath while you slowly count to five.
Allow the breath to escape through your mouth slowly.
Holding your breath between the inhale and the exhale is very important.
The 4-7-8 Breathing Technique
This is more sophisticated still, and may take some practice and getting used to. Focus on the quality of this exercise as it is too easy to get this wrong, and the benefits will be lost.
Lie down or sit down in a comfortable position.
Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest.
Take a deep inhale in as you count to four in your head.
Hold the air in your lungs as you count to seven.
Expel the air through your mouth for a count of eight.
Repeat several times
With this technique one goal is to develop consistency and smoothness, you should be doing the breathing at a regular pace and when you are holding your breath this should not be followed by a rapid exhale.
