BOX BREATHING

calming
3 MINUTES

A partially suspended breathing technique to calm the nervous system.

Exercise Instructions

Focus on creating a rhythmic 'box' pattern with your breath: inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, and hold again for four counts. As feels right in the body, increase the timing to 4 or 5 seconds for an enhanced effect.

How This Somatic Exercise Works

Box Breathing helps regulate your nervous system by balancing the fight or flight and rest and digest responses. Balancing this through the breath and body quickly lower stresss levels and decreases heart rate, and blood pressure, promoting relaxation.

Tips For This Exercise

Start by slowly inhaling to a count of three, filling your lungs completely.

Hold your breath for a count of three, then slowly exhale to a count of three, emptying your lungs completely.

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