Today we’re going to talk about an incredibly simple yet powerful tool that can help you manage your mental health: deep breathing.
Most of us don’t even think about the way we breathe, but taking a few moments each day to practice deep breathing can have a profound impact on our well-being.
In this post, we’ll guide you through a simple deep breathing exercise you can try right now. Whether you’re dealing with a challenging situation or just looking for a way to boost your overall mental health, deep breathing is a technique that can help you feel more calm, centered, and in control. Let’s get started!
This breathing exercise is called, “I am relaxed.”
- Sit comfortably and quietly.
- Tell yourself that you are going to use the next 5, 10, or 20 minutes to re-balance, to heal, to relax yourself.
- Surrender the weight of your body, allowing the chair, or floor, to support you.
- Close your eyes, gently cutting out visual stimulation and distraction.
- As you inhale, repeat to yourself: “I AM”
- As you exhale, say… “RELAXED.”
- Continue to breath normally not trying to change it in any way. Just watch it happening and continue to repeat: “I AM” with inhalation; … “RELAXED” with exhalation.
- As your mind begins to wander, gently bring it back to the awareness of your breath and your statement “I AM RELAXED.” Be compassionate and loving with your “leaping frog” mind which wants to be anywhere but here.
- Continue doing this for as long as you have established.
- To conclude, discontinue the phrase and slowly stretch your hands and feet, your arms and legs, then your whole body.
- Open your eyes a sliver at a time – like the sun coming up in the morning.
- Continue on your way.
Adopted from the Women’s Heart Foundation
Written by: GROW Staff
