Breathing is the New Yoga: Relieve Post-lockdown anxiety
Post-lockdown anxiety? Try this simple breathing technique to have profound effects on your health.
As we find ourselves re-entering society and booking out our calendars, it is easy fall back into prepandemic habits. Getting caught up amongst the hustle and bustle may become overwhelming for some so, it's more important now than ever before, to stop and just breathe.
The Global Wellness Summit, co-funded by Aromatherapy Associates shared in recent years, clinical studies have put modern science and real data behind something we've known for centuries - the way we breathe has profound effects on our mental and physical health and abilities. There really is a natural way to achieve clarity and calm that can also help us fight things like depression, anxiety, hypertension and chronic pain.
The importance of nose breathing is often overlooked. The nose houses an important microbiome, which acts as the first line of defence for your immune system. The air you breathe in through your nose is filtered by hair and mucus, which help combat bacteria's and viruses. For this reason, taking extra care of your nose acts to balance out and revitalise your wellbeing as a whole: this form of breathwork aims to soothe and calm the rest of the body.
Box Breathing is a simple yet profound breathing technique, that Aromatherapy Associates Education Manager Amy Bonfield shares can transform your mood instantly.
"When we are relaxed, we take slower, deeper diaphragmatic breaths. By breathing deliberately in this way, we can help to calm both the mind and the body, stimulating our parasympathetic nervous system and putting the body into 'rest and repair' mode. Box Breathing is a powerful stress-relieving exercise that can be practised anywhere, perfect for when you need to take a moment to calm and refocus during a hectic day or as a tool to use to help with disturbed sleep caused by an overactive mind".