Breathe. Get centered. And Relax.

Have you ever had one of those hectic days? Where everything is just flying at you a mile a minute? Or you’re so stressed, you have trouble falling asleep? Well, guess what: the answer is in your breath.

Some of you may have experienced the calming effects of focusing on your breath during yoga. It is a simple technique that can be used anytime, anywhere – not just on the yoga mat – to bust stress!

Here is how:

Sit in a quiet place you feel comfortable, roll your shoulders back and straighten your spine.

Deeply inhale and hold it for a few seconds.

Take your right thumb and press it to your right nostril, close it completely and exhale through the left.

Pause and inhale through your left nostril.

Use your ring and middle finger to close your left nostril and exhale through the right before pausing and breathing in again through the right.
Continue to alternate sides, making sure to pause for couple seconds at the top and bottom of each breath. Each breath you take should be long and full. Continue alternating nostril breathing for at least 5 minutes. If you want to aim for a deeper sense of relaxation, you can do it for up to 10 minutes.

Now, if you’re nose it so congested due to allergies that you cannot do this exercise, well then, that’s another conversation.

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