The world is a scary place right now since the declaration of Coronavirus as a pandemic. The incessant growth in the cases has resulted in many people panicking. While it is good to practice social distancing by staying at home, being alone gives you a lot of time with yourself and your thoughts. Take me for example, I am someone who gets easily nervous and stressed out. So, in order to calm yourselves during this rough time, breathing exercises are key. Here are three fundamental breathing exercises and their benefits:

Box Breathing

What It Helps With:

  • Trouble falling asleep at night
  • A stressful event (work-related or personal) is stressing you out
  • If you’re angry, stressed or in general, not happy

How To Do It:

  1. Inhale for a count of four.
  2. Hold for a count of four.
  3. Exhale for a count of four.
  4. Wait for a count of four.
  5. Repeat until you feel calm and centred again.

Follow this tutorial if you require any help:

Belly Breathing

What It Helps With:

  • Reducing the amount of work your body needs to do in order to breathe (thus, saving energy)
  • Lowering your stress levels & blood pressure
  • Regulating other important bodily processes

How To Do It:

  1. Sit or lie down.
  2. Put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach above your belly button.
  3. Inhale through your nose, and pay attention to how your stomach rises. Your chest should remain still.
  4. Purse your lips and breath out from your mouth.

Follow this tutorial if you require any help:

Alternate Nostril Breathing

What It Helps With:

  • Trains the lungs and improves the capacity of the respiratory system
  • Positively impacts the nervous system that carries out fundamental functions of the body like the heart rate, respiration and blood pressure
  • It supplies oxygen to your skin cells

How To Do It:

  1. Sit cross-legged.
  2. Close the right nostril with your right thumb.
  3. Inhale deeply through the left nostril and hold.
  4. Close the left nostril with the ring finger.
  5. Let your right hand go as you release the right nostril.

Follow this tutorial if you require any help:

Stay calm and stay indoors.

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