Breathe for Calm

My top 2 favorite breathing techniques to invite a calm state of being.

1. Box Breathing: Named after the shape that many visualize or trace while engaging in this style of breath. In Box Breath, you inhale to a 4 count, hold your breath for a 4 count, exhale to a 4 count, and once again hold your breath to a 4 count. Then repeat this style of breathing for at least 3 minutes to reap the calming benefits throughout your mind and body. As the shape and breath converge, you’ll notice that you inhale up the left side of your box, hold your breath along the top side, exhale down the right, and hold along the bottom as you find yourself arriving back at the starting bottom left corner of your box, completing one cycle of box breathing.

2. Bumble Bee Breathing: This fun breathing style often awakens a playfulness in the breather. Bumble Bee Breath is named after the soothing elongated “Hummmmmmm” sound found as the voice and exhale intertwine. To begin close your eyes. Bring your index fingers or middle fingers to your ears and gently press your tragus cartilage, closing your ears. Next, inhale nice and slowly through your nose. At the peak of your inhale, engage your voice as you begin exhaling out your nose while making a warm, “hummmm” sound. Repeat this style of breathing for 3-5 breaths or until you feel yourself relaxed.

Happy, Easy, Breathing.