I wanted to share a breathing technique that may help reduce your feelings of stress, anxiety, and pain as much as 50% in 5 minutes! 

Because pain is often amplified greatly by stress, I’ve found this method often “helps take the edge off” of pain and discomfort in the physical body.

Results may vary of course, but I love this technique for stress and anxiety. It works in harmony with our autonomic nervous system (fight or flight vs rest and digest modes). This is a technique that I personally use almost every day.

I highly encourage you to watch the video walkthrough below (by clicking the picture).

WATCH THE WALKTHROUGH VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE.

this current moment.

Start by lying down on your back (or stay seated if that's comfortable).

Place one hand on your chest.

Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds. Pay attention to your heart rate.

Breathe out through your mouth for 8 seconds. Pay attention to your heart rate again.

What did you notice?

Did your heart beat faster when you breathed in? Slower when you breathed out? Or did it stay the same, pounding away in your chest??

Try again if you're not sure. 

If your heart rate stays exactly the same, this may be a sign that your body is having a hard time coping with stress!! It's a concept called Heart Rate Variability.

Even if you noticed a difference in your heart rate during the two parts of the breath, the video above STILL demonstrates a great way to improve your resilience to stress.