Breathing with your belly...

Also known as diaphragmatic breathing, is a type of a breathing exercise that helps strengthen your diaphragm, an important muscle that helps you breathe. It has a number of benefits that affect your entire body such as lowering your stress levels, reducing your blood pressure, and helps to regulate other important bodily processes.

1. Sit in a comfortable position or lie flat on the floor, your bed, or another comfortable, flat surface.

2. Relax your shoulders.

3. Put a hand on your chest and a hand on your stomach.

4. Breathe in through your nose for about 2-4 seconds. You should experience the air moving through your nostrils into your abdomen, making your stomach expand.

5. During this type of breathing, make sure your stomach is moving outward while your chest remains relatively still.

6. Purse your lips (as if you’re about to drink through a straw), press gently on your stomach, and exhale slowly for about 2-4 seconds.

7. Repeat these steps for 5 minutes. (set yourself a timer)

My recommendation is for you to try and incorporate this breathing technique into your daily routine, first thing in the morning and when it becomes a habit doing this in the evening as well. It will only take you 10 minutes every day to take some time to just breathe and focus on your breath!

Renee xx