Mindfulness
fromPsychology Today
1 day agoWhy Breathing Matters for Emotional Regulation
Slow, smooth breathing can calm the nervous system, regulate emotions, and improve health with just five minutes of practice daily.
The human neuroendocrine system has changed very little since the time of cave people. Yet today we are likely to receive more stimulation in one day than our ancestors did in their entire lifetime.
Perhaps everyone else in class is twisting while you're skipping it, avoiding eye contact with the teacher, and thinking, "My rib cage does not move that way." You're not alone. Twisting poses, by definition, rotate the spine, which can make it feel like your midsection is being squeezed waaay too tight. That makes it trickier to take a deep breath because of the pressure twisting places on the abdomen. The result? A not-so-calming stretch you'd rather avoid than attempt.
In these times of divisiveness, negative news cycles, and gloomy winter months, it can feel hard to keep our spirits up. But you have way more power over your state of mind than you realize, as my colleagues and I have researched and as I discuss in my new book SOVEREIGN: Reclaim Your Freedom, Energy, and Power in a Time of Distraction, Uncertainty, and Chaos.