We’ve long been advised to ‘take a deep breath’ when faced with a stressful situation, but it turns out there’s a breathing technique that’s much more effective.
In a new video by the Big Think, author Jane McGonigal explains how something she calls ‘the power breath’ can actually fool your body into thinking you’re already calm, effectively turning down your anxiety.
Mc Gonical says: “If you’re in a kind of fight-or-flight state, and you don’t want to be feeling that way, you can do this: inhale for four, exhale for eight, and switch.”
When you get used to the technique, you can try inhaling for a count of eight, then exhaling for 16.
So, how does it work? Apparently it triggers a switch in your body’s nervous system from sympathetic , or ‘fight or flight’ nervous system state to parasympathetic, or ‘rest-and-digest’ nervous system.
McGonigal continues: “This has been used effectively by people for all sorts of things for stopping a panic attack, for reducing the symptoms of a migraine, for dealing with muscle spasms or muscle cramps.
Interested in learning more about the power breath? Check out the video tutorial and give it a go:
