It’s fascinating how changing the way we breathe can drastically improve our lives. Moving away from shallow breathing to deeper, fuller breaths helps remove the toxins in our bodies. As that happens, we experience improved moods and energy, which reflects on our skin.
This breathing exercise can be performed sitting, standing, or even while lying down. Therefore, you don’t really have an excuse to skip it. And if you suffer from anxiety, you should definitely try it!
4-7-8 Breathing Exercise
Sit yourself in a comfortable position and somewhere you’re not likely to be disturbed. Close your eyes and simply focus on how you naturally breathe. Count how long you inhale and exhale for. The purpose, here, is to naturally increase your breaths by building up on how you normally respire.
Now begin the exercise. Inhale for a count of four seconds, and hold your breath in for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your lungs for four seconds. Repeat it until the pattern becomes stable.
The next goal is to gradually increase holding your breath in to 7 seconds, and exhaling it for about 8 seconds. As your breath gets bigger and more balanced, you will feel all the muscles in your body working up. A full breath starts right down from the stomach all the way up to the lungs. The key, however, is to focus on the present.
Every time you exhale, you’ll be throwing off carbon dioxide. As the oxygen increases in your body, the lymph system responds by purifying the blood, resulting in increased mindfulness and a visibly healthier skin.
This exercise can singlehandedly help reduce stress, encourage positivity, and improve your overall posture. You can perform this while on your commute to work or even before bed. If done regularly, it will certainly improve the over-all quality of your life.
