Dear College of Education Community,
Sometimes the best way to deal with stress and find a way to relax is simple-just breath. And even better, breath deeply. Deep breathing can help reduce our experience of stress and increase our relaxation response, so needed to maintain physical and mental health. The Harvard Medical School blog Harvard Health Publishing recommends the following steps to find relaxation through breath focus:
Practicing breath focus-Breath focus helps you concentrate on slow, deep breathing and aids you in disengaging from distracting thoughts and sensations (especially when these are causing stress).
First steps. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down. First, take a normal breath. Then try a deep breath: Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your chest and lower belly to rise as you fill your lungs. Let your abdomen expand fully. Now breathe out slowly through your mouth (or your nose, if that feels more natural).
Breath focus in practice. Once you've taken the steps above, you can move on to regular practice of controlled breathing. As you sit comfortably with your eyes closed, blend deep breathing with helpful imagery and perhaps a focus word or phrase that helps you relax.
To read more about the benefits of deep breathing and the relaxation response, go to
For a list of other self-care options, please go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at
https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care
Take a deep breath…and relax!
Warmly,
Shari