Have you or a loved one ever been trapped in a cycle of relentless crying? The kind that persists despite you not even recalling the root cause? Or perhaps you've dealt with a terrifying panic attack, where you felt like suffocating? You're not alone. It's a tough situation, especially when well-meaning voices advising you to 'calm down' sometimes only add fuel to the fire 😑
Luckily you have me on your phone! Here's a straightforward yet powerful exercise that promises to:
🌬️ Soothe your frantic breathing
✅ Bring your emotions back under control
🌬️ Enhance the flow of air and blood in your body
✅ Mitigate the struggle for air
🌬️ Boost oxygen supply to your organs and tissues
✅ Eliminate the dizziness that accompanies overbreathing
Cue the drumroll! 🥁🥁🥁 Presenting small breath-holds, an exercise from the Oxygen Advantage® program.
Here's your step-by-step guide:
- 💨 Breathe in and out normally through your nose
- 💨 Pinch your nose, hold your breath, and count to 5 - this should not feel uncomfortable
- 💨 Release your nose
- 💨 Take a few normal breaths in and out through your nose
- 💨 Repeat this cycle 5 times
This exercise is designed for everyone (almost everyone: breath holds are not suitable during pregnancy!) and can be practiced at any time of the day to cultivate calmness and diminish stress. It's also a potent emergency tool to regulate breathing during anxiety attacks or bouts of uncontrollable hyperventilation, as well as to alleviate asthma symptoms like wheezing and coughing.
Remember, during emotionally challenging situations, holding your breath can often be easier than slowing it down. So, why not give the small breath-holds exercise a try and experience the difference for yourself?
Stay healthy, stay happy.