Breathing Patterns for Energy Management
It’s a common misconception that our heartbeat is even and measured like a metronome. Our heart rate actually fluctuates quite a bit within each breath cycle. Every time we inhale, our sympathetic nervous system increases our heart rate, and when we exhale, our parasympathetic nervous system slows our heart rate. Knowing this information is very helpful when we’re trying to improve our mental and physical state. If we’re feeling sluggish and weary, we can breathe in slowly, lengthening our inhale to increase our heart rate and boost our overall energy. On the other hand, when we need to relax, we can extend our out-breath and slow our heart rate with a longer exhale to inhale ratio.
Here are some great breathing patterns for you to experiment with. Count evenly and slowly, and try to keep a steady pace. Gently tapping your finger against something can help you to keep your counting even if you find yourself unintentionally speeding up.
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Increasing Energy: Inhale for 6 / Exhale for 2 Repeat Relaxing: Inhale for 4 / Hold for 7 / Exhale for 8 Repeat Centering/Calming: Inhale for 4 / Hold Full for 4 Exhale for 4 / Hold Empty for 4 Repeat |
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For further reading on the invigorating power of the breath, check out this page about mindfully breathing to boost energy!
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