3 EXHALE STRESS

WE ALL BREATHE, BUT DO IT RIGHT AND IT CAN HELP EASE STRESS, FATIGUE AND MORE. Breathwork coach Rebecca Dennis says: “We can’t always control what is happening around us, but we can control how it affects us physically and emotionally. Breathwork keeps me energised, inspired, centred and calm – and it’s so simple.”

Try Rebecca’s breathing exercise:

Conscious connected breathing

➤ PROP YOURSELF UP WITH PILLOWS ON THE BED, WITH CHEST HIGHER THAN YOUR LEGS. MAKE SURE YOU’RE COMFY AND YOUR HEAD IS SUPPORTED.

➤ PLACE YOUR HANDS ON YOUR LOWER ABDOMEN – JUST BELOW THE NAVEL. RELAX THE JAW, OPEN YOUR MOUTH WIDE AND TAKE A DEEP INHALATION (THE BELLY SHOULD RISE) AND EXHALE WITH A QUICK SIGH.

➤ STAY PRESENT WITH THE INHALE AND THE EXHALE. INHALATION SHOULD BE ABOUT TWICE AS LONG AS THE EXHALE, WHICH SHOULD BE QUIET AND RELAXED. KEEP THE BREATH CONNECTED, WITH NO PAUSES, COMING IN AND OUT LIKE A WAVE.

➤ REPEAT FOR 1-2 MINS, NOTICING ANY PHYSICAL SENSATIONS IN THE BODY. REST FOR 1 MIN; RETURN TO NORMAL BREATHING. ✢ Rebecca’s book AND BREATHE (Orion Spring) is out now. For her workshops, see breathingtree.co.uk