The Physiological Sigh

If you haven't yet heard of the physiological sigh, there's a good chance you've already practiced it without even realizing. It's a simple, powerful breathing technique that can help reduce anxiety and stress in just a few moments. The best part? You don’t need to make it a daily habit, and you can use it right when you're feeling stressed or anxious—and it's super simple!

Here's how to do it: Take one slow, deep breath in through your nose, followed by a quick, second inhale through your nose, then exhale all your air out through your mouth. I like to think about expanding the belly with the first inhale, and with the second inhale expanding the chest. You only need to do this 1-3 times, and this should slow the heart rate down, and allow you to drop into a more parasympathetic, calm state.

Interestingly, the physiological sigh was first discovered in the 1930s when people in claustrophobic environments began to instinctively use this breathing pattern to calm themselves.

Next time you feel stress or anxiety creeping in, give this quick breathing exercise a try and see how much better you feel!

Talk soon,

Jolene