Benefits of Intentional Breathing

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Benefits of Intentional Breathing
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• I invite you to take a moment to become aware of
  your breath
• Is it quick or slow?
• Does it feel shallow or deep?
• Is your breath flowing smoothly or is it
  irregular?
• Notice if there is any sound associated with
  your breath.
• Are there any emotions or feelings that come
  up for you as you pay attention to your breathing?

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• Breathing is a natural process that we do all
  day, every single day, without paying much
  attention to it. However, breathing can also be a
  powerful tool to calm the mind and body and
  enhance your wellbeing. Some people only focus on
  breathing when there is an issue, but practicing
  intentional breathing will improve your overall
  health as well as help you access the relaxation
  response when you need it most.

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• Intentional (or mindful) breathing is a great
  technique because you can practice it anywhere,
  it works for any age or fitness level and you
  dont need any fancy or expensive equipment. Your
  breath practice will support you in whatever
  activities you are already doing. Its a simple
  tool with profound effects that can help you
  focus your thoughts and feel more grounded and
  centered. Here are some of the ways intentional
  breathing can help you

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• When You Are Feeling Stressed
• When faced with unexpected or trying situations,
  the following can occur your blood pressure
  shoots up, your muscles become tense and stress
  takes the wheel, leaving you scrambling to
  overcome the obstacles that are before you.
  Intentional breathing is one way to combat the
  sudden stress in your life.

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• Calm, deep breaths have been proven to lower your
  blood pressure as well as clear your head and
  allow you to focus better on how to overcome the
  issue. Since life is unpredictable, having a
  breathing technique in your back pocket can give
  you an additional tool to prepare you for what is
  ahead. One of my favorite breathing techniques
  for relieving stress is called exhaling with
  sound

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• Breathe in deeply so that air fills your abdomen.
• Hold the breath for a few moments.
• As you release air through your mouth, make a
  resonant sound such as ahhh, like a sigh of
  release.
• The combination of breath and sound is very
  effective in releasing stress and tension from
  deep inside. Repeat the cycle 3 to 5 times until
  you feel calmer.

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• Overall Wellbeing
• Throughout the world, the art of breathing has
  been practiced by all cultures and age
  groupseveryone can benefit from practicing
  intentional breathing. The different techniques
  can help depending on your lifestyle, daily
  routine, and overall level of health.

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• Learning how to include breathing exercises in
  your everyday life can yield positive results for
  your health and wellbeing. Deep breathing is a
  simple and effective technique to prepare your
  mind and body to enter into a deep state of
  relaxation

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• Place one hand on your chest and one hand on
  your abdomen. This will allow you to feel your
  abdomen move as you breathe.
• Breathe in slowly and deeply through your
  nose, letting the air fill your lungs and
  abdomen.
• Slowly exhale through your nose or mouth.
• Repeat 3 to 5 times, or until you establish a
  slow, regular breathing pattern.

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• Supplementing Your Relaxation Training
• Intentional breathing might not be the first
  thing you think of when it comes to relaxation.
  The media often focuses on pursuits such as yoga,
  Pilates, and meditation.

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• While these techniques are excellent options for
  a healthy relaxation routine, intentional
  breathing is the foundation of all relaxation
  techniques. Reviewing the different types of
  breathing can give you a deeper understanding of
  how intentional breathing can give you a new
  lease on life. Breathing techniques require
  practice to fine tune and can improve both your
  mental and physical health by leaps and bounds if
  you use them on a regular basis.

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• All it takes to begin is dedicating some time and
  shining the brilliant light of your awareness on
  something that we all take for granted on a daily
  basisour breath!
• You can contact me with any questions about
  breathing and/or other relaxation techniques by
  emailing me at beth_at_atimeforexpression.com

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