Several breathing exercises are presented, all focusing on breathing patterns and on imagining that healing is occurring with breathing. These can be practiced at any time, with your eyes open or shut, for a short or longer amount of time. You can do just one, or let one flow into the next. By focusing on your breathing, you can help your body relax, which often results in less pain. These exercises can also decrease the anxiety that often accompanies pain. When you’re instructed to breathe deeply, moderately deeply is fine, so you don’t hyperventilate.

Pointers:

Do any of the breathing exercises only as long as you’re comfortable. If you begin to feel lightheaded or tingly, simply return your breathing to normal, and shorten the number of deep breaths you take the next time you do the exercise.

Adding gentle, pleasant, natural smells to your environment while doing these breathing exercises is great. Fresh flowers, citrus, or other enjoyable smells can be used. Using any and all of your senses – sight, taste, hearing, touch and smell – can add to your relaxation experience. There are many avenues to your relaxation destination.

Breathing Exercise 2:

Begin to pay attention to your breathing, and invite your body and mind to begin to relax. Take 3 normal breaths in through your nose, watching your chest expand and fall.

Then slow and deepen each breath, and let your chest expand a bit more for the next 3 breaths. Then return your breathing to normal for 3 more breaths.

Once again, slow and deepen your next 3 breaths, letting your chest expand even more. Then return your breathing to normal for 3 more breaths.

Now take 3 breaths, imagining the air flowing in to the very bottom and top of your lungs, letting all areas of your lungs expand with air and then fall. Then again return your breathing to normal.