Jennifer Edwards teaches at the American Heart Association in NYC:
Learn to Take a Deep Breath:
“Just Breathe” – this advice often comes when we’re nearing a breaking-point – completely stressed out and yearning to hear anything but ‘take a deep breath’. The problem is that this is the one and only quick way to BEGIN to release tension from your nervous system.
Put Breathing to Good Use
1) Deep breathing engages the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the system associated with the release of hormones that work to relax you, or bring your body out of the stress state and back to active balance.
2) Practice deep breathing several times every day and build a habit of releasing tension after you feel stressed.
3) Become comfortable with this practice
4) The next time someone says ‘take a deep breath’, use it as a gentle reminder – get angry with them if you wish, but then say thank you, come back to your breath, release tension from your body and enjoy the rush of relaxing hormones.
Breathing is the first step of the BARS Method™. Learn to connect with your body through your breath and then get to work to reduce stress as it arises.
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