Sighing

And feels a bit silly the first time you try it…

But it’s super quick and there is some science behind it, so bear with me!

This week we’re going to try cyclic sighing.

Cyclic sighing is a specific breathing pattern that has been studied by scientists at Stanford University in the USA.

Here’s how you do it:

Breathe in slowly, filling your lungs to about 70%

Then, without exhaling, take a second, shorter sip of air through the nose to fully inflate the lungs.

Then slowly exhale all the air through the mouth.

Make your exhale longer than the inhale.

Repeat for five minutes.

Researchers in clinical trials found that doing this type of breathing had better results than normal mindfulness meditation when practised daily.

Making your exhale longer activates the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing the heart rate and encouraging a feeling of calm.

This is probably something where you’d need to do it daily as a regular practice in order to see improvement

But also – if you’re having a stressful day, five minutes of cyclic sighing could make a difference!