All of the three breathing methods below are powerful if you practice them regularly. And of course, the best part is that breathing is free! You don’t need to buy any special equipment, you don’t have to sign up for a subscription or take supplements, it’s easy to do and there are no side effects.
Breathe better, live better. A powerful, little-known way to happiness and health is right there, under your nose. Literally!
Your left and right nostrils each come with their own unique superpowers. So learn how to use them…
Left Nostril Breathing
How can you overcome anxiety, relax and feel calm? Believe it or not, your left nostril is deeply connected to your parasympathetic nervous system. Research shows breathing through it exclusively for a little while can help you calm down, manage stress and also get a better night’s sleep.
This isn’t difficult to do:
- Close your right nostril with your right thumb.
- Slowly inhale and exhale through the left nostril for a few minutes – aim for 6 seconds in, and 6 seconds out
- Focus on deep, controlled breaths to maximize the calming effect.
Right Nostril Breathing
Right nostril breathing activates the sympathetic nervous system — your body’s fight-or-flight mechanism. Research has shown this usefully increases alertness, energy levels, and metabolic rate.
Again, the steps are simple:
- Close your left nostril with your left thumb.
- Inhale and exhale through the right nostril for a few minutes – again, aim for 6 seconds in and 6 seconds out
- Feel the air rush into your lungs and light up your positive energy level.
Energy boost or not, it will definitely increase your productivity.
“Box” or “Square” Breathing
This breathing technique is one that United States Navy SEALs, an elite special force, use to increase focus and to stay calm, drive attention and enhance mental clarity in tense situations. If it’s good enough for someone under heavy enemy fire, it’s probably good enough for you too!
The process is simple:
- Breathe in for 4 seconds
- Hold it for 4 seconds
- Breathe out for 4 seconds
- Hold for another 4 seconds.
Repeat at least six times. If you find, 4 seconds is too long for you, use 3 instead!
