We have known for millennia that breathing is very closely related to our minds and our mood. Breathing meditation is based on this knowledge and contemporary clinical psychologists are beginning to experiment with it as a means of helping improve mental health.
It’s important to understand how your breath affects your mood so that you can learn to better control your inner lives. Here are three ways breathing influences our mental states.
Shallow Breaths
Shallow breathing is linked to feelings of stress and anxiety. When you’re feeling very anxious and ill, if you take a moment to pay attention to your breath you will probably notice that you are taking very short and shallow breaths. This tells your body that you’re anxious or scared.
Deep Breathing
A good way to combat this is to take big, deep breaths right down into your belly. Deep breathing slows your breath down, prevents the shallow breaths, and makes your body release calm hormones instead of adrenaline.
Square Breathing
A good way to aid the deep breathing is to breathe in to the count of four, hold to the count of four, and breath out to the count of four. This regulates your breathing and helps it stay regular. Soon enough, you’ll feel calm and relaxed.