benefits of breathing

Psychology Tip of the Day: Teach Deep Breathing to Your Children

Children can benefit from deep breathing, too. Teach your child how to breathe deeply  by having him lie on his back with a toy on his stomach and practice making the toy rise with each deep breath.

Psychology Tip of the Day: Breathe Deeply

Deep breathing is a great way to trigger your body's relaxation response, but it can take practice to do effectively. Try putting one hand on your chest and the other hand on your stomach and take a deep breath. Which hand rises when you breathe in? Most people find that the hand on their chest rises. Chest breathing is not the best way to relax.  To deep breathe for relaxation, breathe so that the hand on your stomach rises and falls with each breath. This is also known as belly-breathing or diaphragmatic breathing.

Psychology Tip of the Day: Remember to Breathe

People often "forget" to breathe when the are stressed or upset; they hold their breaths or breathe shallowly, reducing their blood-oxygen level. This can increase feelings of anxiety and tension and make it more difficult to manage the situation effectively. Next time you're faced with a stressful or upsetting situation, check to make sure you're not "forgetting" to breathe.