We can all agree, breathing is important. It’s the first thing we do when we are born. We take our first breath, and we continue to breathe the rest of our lives. Without breath, we have no life, but how can the WAY we breathe help our daily lives and the anxiety we face?
Focused breathing, known in the world of yoga as “Pranayama,” can help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with anxiety. Pranayama is the Sanskrit word for “breath or life force.” Alternatively, it also means “breath control.”
Understanding how Pranayama works will allow you to use focused breathing for anxiety relief.
“The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
When something happens causing people to panic, concerned people around them will remind them to “just breathe,” but why do they do this? It’s because the breath can be calming and restorative.
It works in a number of ways. In another post, we will talk about methods for using the breath to calm ourselves, but for now, let us explore the “how” of breathing and finding relief for anxiety.
So let’s start with what anxiety feels like. Everyone is different, but you might feel some or all of these things during an anxious episode:
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Shortness of breath
- Feelings like choking (or a lump in the throat)
- Chest Pain
- Nausea
- Chest Tightness
- Fear of close-by danger
- Fear of dying
- Heart Palpitations
- The need to escape
- Feeling disoriented
Most psychiatrists/doctors need at least four of these elements to diagnose a panic attack.
It is with the breath, we are able to help control the feelings we are having during an anxiety attack. With slowed, rhythmic, concentrated breathing, you can reduce anxiety because of proper breathing:
- Slows your heart rate causing muscles to relax
- Decreases blood pressure
- Slows breathing
- Decreases metabolism
Being aware of HOW you are breathing will help during an anxiety attack. Often in the panic of an attack, many people will breathe faster and shallow. This leads to the feeling of having shortness of breath, fostering the symptoms further. Slowing the breath, and allowing the body to use the breath to calm the body naturally, is the best way to overcome anxiety naturally, wherever you are when you feel anxious.
I will post breathing techniques soon!
Namaste, Tina
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