Lower Your Stress and Increase Your Energy With Reverse Breathing

As busy as we are these days, we tend to have enough stress to fill an entire room but hardly enough energy to make it through the day. This technique will help lower your stress levels and increase your energy levels immediately.

“Reverse breathing,” or “Taoist breathing” as it’s also known, is meant to center and calm the mind while drawing energy deep into the tissues and bones.

It’s called “reverse breathing” because instead of breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, you’ll be doing just the opposite.

Six simple steps to get rid of stress and amp up your energy

1. Breathe in deeply through your mouth, counting to five.
2. Hold your breath for one count.
3. Exhale through your nose, counting to five.
4. Pause for two counts.
5. Repeat.
6. Continue for at least seven breaths, in and out. Do not practice for longer than three minutes.

Breathe in, breathe out

Focus only on your breathing. If thoughts drift into your mind, be aware of them and then let them pass on through. Some people close their eyes because this helps get rid of any distractions around them.

The stomach will contract as you breathe in and expand as you breathe out. As the name implies, it is the reverse of the “normal” breathing pattern.

Use this method anytime you need some extra energy or when you’re feeling stressed or anxious. It only takes a few minutes out of your day but can give back so much more!

Photo credit: DV8OR, Stocksy