Being in healthcare I know very well the benefits of deep breathing. I instruct my patients in the correct technique all the time, and I try to make a point of doing it myself. Though recently I have fallen off the wagon. For simplicity sake, I'm going to use a direct quote from the msn article, because I can't explain the benefits any better:
"Breathing from your diaphragm can help reduce blood pressure and heart rate, decrease levels of stress hormone, boost immune system functioning, reduce stress and anxiety, promote better sleep, and enhance physical energy."Yeah, yeah, we know. But next I will direct quote the negative effects of shallow breathing:
"Small, shallow breaths that use muscles in the chest (rather than the diaphragm) can result in an excessive emptying of carbon dioxide out of the blood, which can lead to a variety of possible issues, including anxiety, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, heart palpitations and even insomnia."That's what ultimately got me when I read Day 9's post.. I felt like the article was describing me personally. I have been so anxious, I haven't been sleeping, I've had no energy. And while most of that is a result of the emotional turmoil I've been experiencing, I know very well that some of those symptoms are within my power to control or at least manage. And I've been doing a rather poor job in recognizing that.
This is a wonderful reminder for me (and hopefully for you, too) to take the time to BREATHE. I really need to get back into my meditation routine as well, but stopping a few times a day to breathe will be a good start.
In closing I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes of all time. It is part of a song lyric by Stephen Kellogg.. "but I will just keep breathing in."
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