Stress! Anxiety! Pain! What’s going on?
No matter if it is stress, anxiety, negative emotions or physical pain, our bodies respond with tightened muscles, quicker heartbeat, short breaths, and dilated pupils. These responses are instinctive and becomes a developed habit when future stressful situations occur. Our bodies will then begin to pump out adrenaline and cortisol to fuel our habitual responses. In time, we will suffer from insomnia, hypertension, indigestion, cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Time for a detox!!!
Breathe!!!
Yes. Without thinking, we breathe all day and night. However, when was the last time you took a deep breath? How many times per day do you deeply breathe? Not much, if at all right? Did you know that deep breathing is our most natural ways to remedy stress and anxiety, reduce pain, high blood pressure and even aide in digestion? Oxygen does wonders for the body and mind by cleansing, opening and soothing different parts of our bodies and is extremely healthy and also…..very free!!!
What are the benefits of Deep Breathing?
By inhaling more oxygen and exhaling more carbon dioxide, we will be able to enjoy these benefits:
1.) Our stress is released and we become more calm and into our natural state. The increase of oxygen causes our bodies to release endorphins, better known as the “feel good” chemical.
2.) When the endorphins are released into our bodies, physical pains are alleviated.
3.) With the increase of oxygen, we will have a better blood flow that will increase our energy, immunity, and digestion, while also decreasing our blood pressure.
How does Deep Breathing help with digestion?
By breathing correctly, there are many benefits to enjoy. One of the greatest benefits is that it can greatly reduce your anxiety. Deep breathing for a count of five or more changes the nervous system, taking the body from the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) to the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the digest-and-rest mode. The fight or flight response causes blood to move from the gut to the larger muscles, which interferes with digestion, weakens the immune system and increases inflammation. Temporarily, they are not harmful and may even be helpful, but when this happens repeatedly, they can hurt your health. Deep breathing turns off this “fight-or-flight” mode in our bodies. Taking slow, deep breathes creates a “relaxation response” that calms the mind and body. Abdominal breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, is one of the easiest, most effective ways to reduce muscle tension and stop the fight or flight response.