Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Updated : September 25, 2014 4:27 PM IST
Your boss has been piling on the work, your partner is upset or you are just low on cash there can be a number of reasons for stress, but it's how you break out of the cycle that is important. While you might have other unhealthy methods of coping with stress (like smoking), there are a few natural and healthy ways to beat the stress deep breathing. When you are stressed breathing becomes that much more important!
Think about it, when you are stressed your body becomes taught and all wound up. Your breathing often becomes shallow and in some cases you may even start to sweat. This is actually your body's fight or flight reaction coming into play. It is actually sending your brain signals that it's time to protect itself from danger. When you breathe in deeply however, your brain gets enough oxygen to think and cognate signals more coherently. Apart from this, the rush of oxygen also relaxes your muscles and tells your brain to get out of the 'fight or flight' mode. Not only does this help you beat stress, but it also helps prevent all the damage it can do to your body.
How to breathe to relax and lower stress
When stressed try to seclude yourself for a few minutes. If this is not possible try breathing deeply, right where you are. Here's how you can do this:
Sit comfortably, either on a chair (or on the floor if you can), close your eyes and keep your palms on your knees. Make sure your palms are facing upwards. Now inhale deeply, hold your breath for a few seconds and then breathe out gently. Do this four to five times for effective relief from stress.
Image source: Getty images
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