6 Healthy Breathing Exercises for Anxiety and Depression
Discover the free, easy way to relax, increase focus, and sleep better.
Laughter may be the best medicine, but breathing exercises are no strangers to well-being. Primarily used during intense episodes of stress, such as exams or work meetings, they calm your brain and lower your blood pressure, as well as your heart rate. Done regularly, they are useful in battling anxiety, depression, stress, phobias, insomnia, and PTSD.
Some breathing techniques are also useful in recovering from lung diseases, such as asthma or COVID-19*.
Try these easy techniques a few times to see which one suits you best. Then, make the winner part of your daily routine, as “breathing breaks” between activities.
Alternate Nostrils
This yoga-style breathing technique diverts your mind away from the problem at hand. It increases your focus, reduces your heart rate, and calms the body. It is not recommended when you have a cold. Not because it poses any threat, but because a stuffed nose would make it almost impossible.
- Press your right thumb on your right nostril and inhale deeply through your left nostril.
