Breathe Easy

In our highly stimulating world, the body can still feel in motion as the day draws to a close. Your heart rate may be elevated, breath shallow and mind racing. Breathing exercises offer an immediate and accessible way to guide the body out of this heightened state and into rest.

Slow, intentional breathing signals to the brain that the time for hyper-vigilance has come to an end. As the lungs fill deeply and your exhale lengthens, the body shifts from sympathetic activation into a parasympathetic state; the physiology of rest and repair. Muscles relax and the mind slows down. Sleep becomes closer and easier to grasp.

Practices such as the physiological sigh (two short inhales followed by a long, unforced exhale) help to release the tension that can accumulate during the day. Breathing exercises are most effective when paired with a calm environment, so try to dim the light and eschew screens to carve out a deliberate pause before you retreat to bed.