What do you do for survival? Exactly. Now do it to LIVE. Breathe, my child.
Breathing occurs at a subconscious level, which doesn’t have to mean it should keep going on like that. A simple yet incredibly crucial activity, that if hindered makes the carbon dioxide release in your spectacular body; upset. We know what it leads to, well count your panic attacks, fatigue, physical and mental imbalance in.
Don’t you worry tender hearts, we got you covered. Here are 4 wonderful little exercises that you can fit in your frenetic schedules.

1. Pursed-Lip Breathing

Found to benefit people who have anxiety associated with lung conditions like emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this is a simple technique that will make your breathing a little more intentional.
a. Sit in a comfortable position with your neck and shoulders relaxed.
b. Keeping your mouth closed, inhale slowly through your nostrils for two seconds.
c. Exhale through your mouth for four seconds, puckering your lips as if giving a kiss.
d. Keep your breath slow and steady while breathing out.

2. Mindfulness Breathing

Bringing your attention to the present without allowing your mind to drift to the past or future, as overwhelming as it sounds; it is not so. One mindfulness breathing exercise to try involves choosing a calming focus, including a sound (“om”), positive word (“peace”), or phrase (“breathe in calm, breathe out tension”) to repeat silently as you inhale or exhale. Let go and relax. If you notice that your mind has drifted, take a deep breath and gently return your attention to the present. So next time the haunting memories of your exes, parents’ taunts or the sudden uncertainty of the future hits, you know what to do. Do not get your mind be full of them, be Mindful.

3. Belly Breathing

When I say, that belly can do a lot more than just dance and fill itself with cheese, I mean this. 20 to 30 minutes of “belly breathing,” also known as abdominal breathing or diaphragmatic breathing, each day can reduce stress and anxiety, as per the American Institute of Stress.
Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit or lie down. For example, try sitting in a chair, sitting cross-legged, or lying on your back with a small pillow under your head and another under your knees.

1. Place one hand on your upper chest and the other hand on your belly, below the ribcage.
2. Allow your belly to relax, without forcing it inward by squeezing or clenching your muscles.
3. Breathe in slowly through your nose. The air should move into your nose and downward so that you feel your stomach rise with your other hand and fall inward (toward your spine).
4. Exhale slowly through slightly pursed lips. Take note of the hand on your chest, which should remain relatively still.

4. Lion’s Breath

Finally comes the one exercise suiting YOU, lions and lionesses. It is time to roar up to the world and declare your existence.
Lion’s breath, or simhasana in Sanskrit, during which you stick out your tongue and roar like a lion, is another helpful deep breathing practice. It can help relax the muscles in your face and jaw, alleviate stress, and improve cardiovascular function. The exercise is best performed in a comfortable, seated position, leaning forward slightly with your hands on your knees or the floor.

1. Spread your fingers as wide as possible.
2. Inhale through your nose.
3. Open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue, and stretch it down toward your chin.
4. Exhale forcefully, carrying the breath across the root of your tongue.
5. While exhaling, make a “ha” sound that comes from deep within your abdomen.
6. Breathe normally for a few moments.
7. Repeat lion’s breath up to seven times.

If you are someone with medically diagnosed disorders or at extreme health hazards, we suggest you to take your doctor’s approval before considering any of the aforementioned exercises.
Next time you compare a random task to being “as easy as breathing”, know that effective and right breathing too is hard. But with the right assistance and will to breath, we do make living as easy as to simply Breathe!

Thank you!!

Vanshika Parmar