Deep Belly Breathing

Deep Belly Breathing stimulates the Vagus nerve.

By utilising the lower parts of the lungs and expanding the belly as opposed to shallow chest breathing, which only utilizes the upper chest.

To practice deep belly breathing:

• Either lie down on your back with your knees bent (if you are new to breathwork) or sit up straight
• Place one hand on your upper chest and the other on your belly
• Inhale deeply through the nose and let the air fill toward your abdomen
• Exhale slowly through the nose as you relax your abdomen
• The hand on your chest should be relatively stable as the hand on your belly rises and falls with each breath

Keep breathing like this for up to ten minutes or until you feel calm and relaxed.

*Also known as abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing.