Comments on: Don’t forget to breathe

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:43:29 +0000

I learned about this process of relaxation breathing where you physically try to fill the bottom of your lungs first and fill upward. It’s like a massage from the inside out. Everyone at the table fell asleep shortly there after so I don’t remember what happened next.

By: Daisy

Daisy — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:37:16 +0000

Learning to breathe properly helped me control hyperventilation. I was suffering severely years ago due to stress and anxiety. My doctor even told me it would be good for me to take up singing lessons, because it also focuses on breathing techniques. I thought it was best to spare the singing teacher that agony. ;-)

By: psychsarah

psychsarah — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:16:36 +0000

I’m smiling at this post. I will often present diaphragmatic breathing to my clients by stating “so, today I’m going to teach you something that you’ve been doing all your life: breathing” just to break the ice. It really does do wonders for so many things! Glad you’re finding it helpful for running.

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:46:20 +0000

I used a Zen Buddhist breathing technique when I suffered from anxiety/panic disorder several years ago. I still use it today on the rare occasions I feel anxiety and have passed it along to others:

Place your hand on your lower abdomen to direct the breath deep into your body (no, your breath doesn’t actually go there, but if you breathe high in the chest, you defeat the purpose of the exercise. This encourages the breathing to remain low and relaxed.)

Breathe in for a slow count of five, hold for a slow count of five, then exhale for a slow count of seven.

Repeat – in for a slow count of five, hold for a slow count of five, exhale for a slow count of seven.

The next two breaths are taken normally, no counting, then repeat the cycle again.

But the *real* question is – does the breathing you’ve been doing help you, or is it too early to tell?

By: Dental Mesquite

Dental Mesquite — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:25:18 +0000

Your book was intriguing. i wanted to have a copy..=)

cool post! breathing has lots of benefits. a simple inhale and exhale can take away stress.

By: PastaQueen

PastaQueen — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:47:13 +0000

@Andy Lee – I guess you’ll have to buy the book to find out.

By: Andy Lee

Andy Lee — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:02:51 +0000

I’m wondering whether anyone offered you a REASON for the headaches (one that seems to apply to the resulting disappearance?)? Although I generally love a good mystery, I like the kind that come with an ending at the end. And of those, I really like the ones where the next door neighbor’s autistic son did it with a lead pipe in the billiard room.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:21:20 +0000

I like doing deep breathing… I need to remember to do it more often! It especially relaxes me before I go to sleep at night.

By: veg_head

veg_head — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:44:40 +0000

I’ve always enjoyed breathing :) Deep breathing does help relieve tension for me, so does pulling on my hair really close to the scalp. It eases my headaches from staring wide eyed at the computer all the time and forgetting to blink or relax my face.

By: Quix

Quix — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:29:53 +0000

I find that a four count in and out feels best for me both when relaxing and while running (as long as I’m going at a pretty quick pace). But yeah, breathing is very important! My hubby almost stopped doing that while having an asthma attack in the car a while ago and let me tell you, it was not fun for him… :)