This 4th Challenge will help you to better manage your stress, because stress is a contributing factor to unhealthy living habits.

 

Under normal circumstances the autonomous nerve system makes sure tension and relaxation are balanced. But when you are overwhelmed with stress, it is possible for your body to be under continuous tension.

 

Hectic living makes many people breathe too fast and too shallow, which can cause various complaints, such as fear and anxiety attacks, hyperventilation, depression, stress, headaches etc.

 

Cortisol is the hormone your body generates during stress and that unbalances your whole hormone system.

Breathing exercises allow your mind and body to rest and lower the Cortisol level.

The belly breathing is the most efficient way to relax yourself.

Check whether your breathe via the chest or the belly and put you hand on your chest and the other on your belly. Breathe normally. When the hand on your chest moves, or if both hands move, you are breathing superficially. Only when only the hand on your belly moves, you are fully breathing from the belly.

Every day Zen with this belly breathing exercise:

• put one hand on your belly and feel how the belly rises and falls
• breathe in through the nose and feel how your hand is pushed upward with every breath you take
• breathe out slowly through the mouth and feel how your belly gives space to our hand
• count every inhale of breath

REPEAT THE BELLY BREATHING EVERY HOUR (10 COUNTS)