Several breathing exercises are presented, all focusing on breathing patterns and on imagining that healing is occurring with breathing. These can be practiced at any time, with your eyes open or shut, for a short or longer amount of time. You can do just one, or let one flow into the next. By focusing on your breathing, you can help your body relax, which often results in less pain. These exercises can also decrease the anxiety that often accompanies pain. When you’re instructed to breathe deeply, moderately deeply is fine, so you don’t hyperventilate.

Pointers:

Do any of the breathing exercises only as long as you’re comfortable. If you begin to feel lightheaded or tingly, simply return your breathing to normal, and shorten the number of deep breaths you take the next time you do the exercise.

Adding gentle, pleasant, natural smells to your environment while doing these breathing exercises is great. Fresh flowers, citrus, or other enjoyable smells can be used. Using any and all of your senses – sight, taste, hearing, touch and smell – can add to your relaxation experience. There are many avenues to your relaxation destination.

Breathing Exercise 3:

Begin to pay attention to your breathing, and invite your body and mind to begin to relax. Imagine that healing oxygen in the air you’re breathing in is traveling to all areas of your body. With each breath in, imagine this healing traveling to a different area of your body. First to your head, with your next breath to your face, next your neck and shoulders, next down your arms to the tips of your fingers, next your chest and stomach, next your back, next your pelvis, and down your legs to the tips of your toes.

Now focus on your healing breath going to those areas of your body that have discomfort, one area at a time. Let each area receive that healing oxygen for 10 or 20 or more breaths.