Sympathetic Breathing
A Guided Meditation and Breathing
for Nervous System Balancing.
Sympathetic Breathing
The core nervous system responsible for stress is the Sympathetic Nervous System. It is the nervous system that becomes active during times of stress and worry. Originally, it kept us safe as the "fight or flight" response. In modern society, we feel it in many different situations, such as job stress, or dealing with a difficult relationship. Allowed to continue, it becomes chronic stress. Sympathetic Breathing restores calm and balance to the Sympathetic Nervous System.
Teachings
The Sympathetic Breathing technique is taught as one of three individual skills. With practice, these individual skills actually form one breathing technique. This technique is the best way to balance and restore calm to the sympathetic nervous system which is a branch of the autonomic nervous system. This technique is well documented through scientific research of Heart Rate Variability. Through this breathing technique Heart Rate Variability increases and restores normal function of the autonomic nervous system.
To review, here are the four skills that make up the practice of Sympathetic Breathing.
Relaxed Breath: Keep your throat open, breath falls into your belly, ribs move with each breath. Not too deep and not too shallow.
Smooth Change: The change between breaths is gentle and slow; like an ocean wave, coming onto the shore lingering and returning.
Quickening and Slowing: In-breath - heart rhythm quickens. Out-breath - body sinking and heart slows.
Rate of Breathing: Breathe in for five seconds, and breath out for five seconds.
Personal Biofeedback
The technique of Sympathetic Breathing was originally developed during Heart Rate Variability biofeedback research. This particular technique of deep relaxation was found to be so effective that an inexpensive personal biofeedback device name the StressEraser was developed by Helicor, Inc. Additional information about the StressEraser and the science of Heart Rate Variability can be found through the following link: Stress Relief with the StressEraser personal biofeedback device.
All Free
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