Breathing Into Relaxation

Breathing is breathing, right? Not quite! The way you breathe has everything to do with how tense you are.Shallow, rapid breathing high up in the chest is both a response to stress and a creator of tension. Deep abdominal breathing, on the other hand:

· Increases oxygen supply to the brain and muscles

· Stimulates the branch of the nervous system that produces a state of calm

· Increases awareness of the body

· Increases efficiency of excretion of toxins

· Improves concentration

·Triggers relaxation

The next time you watch a basketball game, notice that the players breathe deeply to calm themselves before they attempt a free throw. Good golfers also use deep breathing to create a state of calm before each shot.

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