Originally published October 14 2005
Instructor teaches students how to manage stress with breathing techniques
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Bernadette Johnson, director of the Integrative Medicine Program at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut, recommends a four-step respiration program for stress relief.
Your symptoms may be caused by stress, says Bernadette Johnson, director of the Integrative Medicine Program at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut.
Challenged by a saber-toothed tiger, the caveman either ran or fought for his life.
Nowadays, our threat from saber-tooths is down to zero, but we react the same way when menaced: The mind tells the body to protect itself, generating a faster heart rate, breathing and blood flow.
Result: Anxiety, depression, heart palpitations and a host of other symptoms.
People can break the stress cycle in four easy steps, says Johnson.
Second, breathe using your stomach (belly breathing) with a few deep breaths, allowing the stomach to expand with air.
Johnson instructs students to count from 1 to 4 while inhaling, then to count down from 4 to 1.
"They sleep better, have less relationship problems and irritability with co-workers."
Breathing is also an important element in mind and body regimens including yoga, meditation and Pilates.
Janaki Pierson, yoga and meditation instructor at Greenwich Hospital's Integrative Medicine Program and founding director of the Woodbury Yoga Center, instructs students on the importance of belly breathing.
Infants, cats and dogs belly breathe automatically, says Pierson.
However, by the time a child reaches 8 or 10, they're usually chest breathers because of the fight or flight response that depends on chest breathing for quick, short bursts of oxygen.
Elaine Petrone recalls how open-mouthed breathing helped her recover from a serious leg injury exacerbated by a viral-like illness.
Petrone teaches this relaxation technique in the Health and Fitness Institute at Stamford's Tully Health Center.
The program combines breathing with the use of rubber balls under various body parts to lessen excess muscle tension.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml