Hello, Beauties🌸 Today’s post, Are You Waiting to Exhale? Know The Benefits of Conscious Breathing.
Last week, I had my six-month checkup with my internist. The medical assistant called me back to get my vitals—the weight, height, blood pressure check, list of all medications, and endless questions about any changes. I passed with flying colors, with no weight gain and a regular BP reading.
The visit starts to take a nose dive when the practitioner comes in and queries me about the last six months. Then she proceeds to retake my blood pressure. The results this time are not so good!
My first blood pressure reading was 128/76, within healthy guidelines. The second reading was 160/80. At this point, the doctor gave me simple instructions: First, uncross my legs, sit up straight, take a deep breath by expanding my belly, pause, exhale slowly to the count of five, and repeat a few times. The third reading is back to normal: 128/76.
Boy, what an aha moment for me. My six-month disclosure statements included the recent diagnosis of my mother’s Ovarian Cancer with the question, Am I at risk?
I got a lecture from my doctor about the importance of caring for one’s physical and mental self and being mindful of any challenges one may take on for oneself or loved ones.
I intend to share my personal information to show how internalizing situations can affect you. The short conscious breathing exercise calmed my nervous system, reduced stress, increased alertness, boosted my immune system, and lowered my blood pressure back to normal.
Dr. Richard Brown, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and co-author of “The Healing Power of Breath,” states his theory. Controlled breathing can change the response of the body’s autonomic nervous system, which controls unconscious processes such as heart rate and digestion, as well as the body’s stress response.
Consciously changing the way you breathe seems to signal the brain to adjust the nervous system, which can slow the heart rate and digestion and promote feelings of calm, thus reducing stress.
The lesson here is that winter and the holidays are right around the corner; it’s crucial to stay healthy and balanced to avoid getting either sick or stressed:
◊ Eat a balanced diet with whole foods
♠ Get plenty of Vitamin C
◊ Drink plenty of water
♥ Exercise at least 3x a week
◊ Relax, laugh, breathe, and enjoy life
Don’t wait to exhale anytime about anything, especially during the upcoming holiday season. If needed, breathe through the nose to fill your lungs when feeling overwhelmed or agitated by people or situations, maintaining your physical and mental health. You now know the benefits of controlled breathing, so be mindful to take a deep breath before any information or challenge consumes you.
Thank you for reading, and have a fabulous Thanksgiving with family or friends.
