Balance your nervous System: Breathe

Do you ever notice it is harder to breathe when you are anxious? When the nervous system is on high alert, the breath usually becomes short and shallow. When the alarm is high, we often start to breathe through our mouths. You can shift from sympathetic nervous system mode to parasympathetic nervous system mode by breathing.

• Relax your belly and pelvic floor and invite the breath to drop into the belly.

• Breathe in a rhythm. Try inhaling and exhaling for the same count to bring steadiness to the nervous system.

• Lengthen your exhales. Longer exhales than inhales create a physiological sense of ease.

• Practice alternate nostril breathing. Close your right nostril with a finger and breathe in through the left nostril. Close the left nostril and breathe out through the right. Inhale back up through the right nostril. Close the right nostril and exhale through the left. Repeat for 5 - 10 minutes.

Follow along for the next few posts to learn more practical strategies you can use to balance your nervous system and heal from pain and click on the link in my bio and join the Path to Wellness.