Recommendation #4 -Breathwork

Cyclic breathing and stress relief

Recommendation #4 is to do a 5-minute breathing exercise. Most Eastern forms of exercise like yoga and qi gong emphasize specific kinds of breathing. I have been working with Gyrotonic trainers for a dozen years now, and breathing “intentionally” is an integral part of that too. I do find that linking my breath to body movements creates a greater sense of flow. Gyrotonic on machines and Gyrokinesis on mats both develop greater flexibility, especially in the spine. Here is a link to a video that explains Gyro: https://www.gyrotonic.com/

In addition, breathwork exercises by themselves, as Richard Sima writes, “allow us to consciously slow down our breathing. And research shows it can not only affect mood but also physiology by inducing a more relaxed state.” It can help reduce stress and even stop panic attacks. He cites the work of Dr. David Siegel of Stanford University whose research has demonstrated the effectiveness of practicing “cyclical sighing” for 5 minutes a day. Did you know that we unconsciously sigh very regularly, without being aware of it, as a natural way to get rid of carbon dioxide? Dr. Siegal gives a quick demonstration of the technique here:

Try it and tell us what you discover. Richard Sima’s original article in the Washington Post, with much more detail, is available only to subscribers at https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/03/16/breathing-exercises-mood-anxiety-brain/

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