Do you remember back in school when your teacher told you to take a couple of deep breaths or to walk it off? As humans, we all have our moments when we feel particularly stressed or deeply emotional. At times like these, we may suffer from deteriorations in our ability to think or problem solve, and if it happens often enough, we may need some professional help or assistance to deal with our inability to cope with our emotions. That said, most of the time when we are feeling unhappy, controlled breathing exercises can do a great job at allowing us to retune ourselves and get back to a healthier state of mind. In fact, regular breathing exercises, even when you’re not feeling down, can promote overall mental health! Read on to find out more about the benefits of deep breathing for seniors.
What Is Deep Breathing?
Deep breathing can refer to several methods of breathing techniques that make the individual focus on and control their breaths. You may find deep breathing in a variety of different exercises, such as yoga or guided meditations. Generally speaking, deep breathing involves the following techniques:
- Gaining mindfulness over your breath: Most techniques begin by getting the individual to focus on feeling their breath. This means just becoming aware of how you breathe, and the bodily associations associated with it. Practitioners may recommend focusing on feeling the air enter your nostrils and paying attention to the rising movement of your chest as you exhale.
- Focusing: After some time, you may then be asked to focus on a particular object or body part. This may range from focusing on something like your nose, to an idea or a mantra. The intention of which would be to generate focus and reduce awareness of distracting ideas or sounds.
- Controlled breathing: Some breathing techniques also have you control the intake and exhaling of air. This may be as simple as breathing according to a set timer (like the 4,7,8 method), or as complex as controlling the nostril you are breathing through.
What Are the Benefits of Deep Breathing?
The primary benefit of deep breathing is the reduction of stress in your body and the lowering of your heart rate. This makes it great for the start and end of your day, as it allows you to relax your mind and focus on the task at hand and clear any intrusive thoughts you may be having. Some research indicates that deep breathing may also play a role in reducing your blood pressure and managing chronic pains. It can also be a useful strategy for controlling symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.
Living the Good Life at Discovery Village At Southlake
At Discovery Village At Southlake, we try and reduce the amount of stress our residents have to face by creating an environment that is both relaxing and carefree. Within our resort-style community, we offer complimentary housekeeping and home maintenance with our exclusive senior living programs. At Discovery Village At Southlake, we want to take the burden of chores off your shoulders so that you can focus instead on doing the things you want to in life.
