RELAXATION
Relax Max
Breathing exercises are a quick and easy way to relax. It may be interesting to learn that our breathing can change the way we feel. When we feel stressed or worried, usually we breathe more quickly and shallowly, and this makes our heart beat faster.
BREATHING: NOT SO SIMPLE?
A really good way to start to feel relaxed is to use your diaphragm when you breathe in and out. This is because it is our body's most efficient muscle in helping us breathe, and can trigger a state of relaxation.
A lot of people practice breathing like this to help them calm.
Here's what you can do to try it. Keep your shoulders and chest still (they shouldn't contract and expand when you breathe from the abdomen). Put one hand on your belly and focus on breathing in and out using your diaphragm, which you will notice will move out when you breathe in, and then it will move in when you breathe out. Try to let go of any tension in your abdomen and the muscles in that area of your body. You can also try sitting with your palms facing upwards to let your body know that you are relaxed.
The more you practice these breathing techniques, the better you will be at them. So use breathing exercises in any situation where you might feel anxious - like before an exam, or a date, or when you have to tell your parents something that you know won't please them!
