Breathing Exercises That Can Be Used To Reduce Stress

Fourfold Breathing

The fourfold breathing technique is known as a method of rhythmic breathing that can help calm the body and clear the mind. The fourfold breath is easy to do and can be used as a warmup before meditation or yoga, or to gain clarity or reduce stress in times of panic.

To begin, inhale a full breath through the nose for a total of four seconds. Hold it for an additional four seconds and then completely exhale for another count to four. Now keep the lungs empty for another four seconds and repeat back from the start. Do ten to twenty times, or until you begin feeling calm and less anxious.

To master the fourfold breath, learn how to breathe both into the abdomen and into the upper part of the chest. Next, learn which breathing exercise can help you as soon as you wake up.