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Breath and Relaxation: the Key to Relief From Your Stress
Author: Sandi Anders, M.Div., R.Y.T.  | Posted: 25-04-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 12 | Rating: (50)  (?) 
Exceptional and easy access to the Relaxation Response is available through paying attention to the breath -- the basis of most meditative activities.
Just paying attention to the flow of air into your nose, down into your lungs, then the outflow of the warmed air –- has a restful and calming effect, allowing your body to transition into the Relaxation Response.
Breathing is unique in that it is a bodily activity that occurs routinely, whether we are focusing on it or not –- and also is controllable through conscious intention. We can choose to breathe deeply, we can hold the breath, we can breathe quickly or slowly.
This unique attribute helps us to understand the utility of breathing in reaching the Relaxation Response. Through consciously paying attention to the breath, we are influencing the parasympathetic nervous system of the body, which controls other automatic responses such as heart rate and blood pressure.
Thus the simple act of watching your breath as you breathe slowly and deeply starts to lower your heart rate and stabilize your blood pressure. When you keep on doing this, the endocrine system starts to lessen the amount of stress hormones it is releasing. Gradually your bodily responses are slowed as the Relaxation Response spreads throughout your body.
The breath is an amazing and always-present resource to guide you to deeper relaxation. Notice the experience of breathing, noticing the flow of air moving in and out of your body. Notice –- and pause for just a moment -– at the “still point” after you breathe out, before you begin to take in the next slow, gentle breath.
You may want to experiment with taking “relaxation breaks” throughout the day, relaxing for a minute or two as you only pay attention to your breath. These are restful moments!
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