Breath Work

Do you notice if you're holding your breath? Do you notice if you're breathing slow or fast, shallow or deep? Do you notice if you're sighing a lot, because when you sigh it may mean you're trying to catch your breath.

When you hold your breath or when you breathe very fast your blood vessels constrict. You want them wide open because as your blood flows through the vessels it carries oxygen, nutrients from the food you've eaten, and maybe even medications you are taking. You want those very important elements to flow freely so they are more effective. Especially after surgery when you're getting your pain medication, it may very well work better and faster and help you relieve your pain and discomfort.

Also, when you're holding your breath, your muscles tighten up. When you are in pain especially after surgery you may think if you hold your breath your pain will be better. On the contrary, when you hold your breath your muscles tighten and your pain shoots up.

I'm going demonstrate this simple breathing technique now.

Watch Breathwork Video

You can practice this technique, three full breaths, spaced out throughout the day. When you wake up in the morning even if you don't feel like you're stressed do take three or more full breaths - if you're stressed you recover. In the middle of the morning again take three or more full breaths as your stress is going up - taking the breaths you're managing, you're coping. As your stress level goes up in the middle of the day, take a pause, take another three or more full breaths, manage and recover. And in the late afternoon, early evening, and before you go to bed.

But you can start with this technique slowly. Maybe the first two days you will take two breaths twice a day, when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed. Then over the next couple of days add a practice in the middle of the day, say at your lunchtime. Now it's three times a day. Then add one more, say before you go home. You're gradually putting this into your daily activity so it sticks more because you're not pressuring yourself. You're gradually easing it into your daily life.

So throughout the day, practice this without stressing yourself that you have to do this. Use whatever reminder will help you. I would suggest you partner with a co-worker, or you can program your computer every hour or two, or create a nature screen saver that reminds you to relax or just displays the word breathe. Try to be creative with what will work for you and how you will remember to practice.