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BITESIZE | Reduce Stress and Anxiety With These Powerful Breathing Practices | Dr Nicole Le Pera #435

Mar 15, 2024 15m 14s 8 insights
Breathing is information for our brain and body, and stress and our breath are intimately linked.  Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.   Today’s clip is from episode 318 of the podcast with clinical psychologist Dr Nicole Le Pera. In this clip, she shares some simple yet powerful breathing techniques that can help us reduce stress. Thanks to our sponsor https://www.drinkag1.com/livemore Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/318 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Start Small, Manageable Promises

When adopting new practices, make a promise that feels so small it’s manageable, ensuring consistency and building a solid foundation for the habit.

2. Daily 5 Deep Belly Breaths

Commit to taking five deep belly breaths every morning before getting out of bed, laying down with a hand on your belly, to teach your body signals of calm and safety.

3. Use Breath for Real-Time Regulation

Utilize breathwork in moments of activation, such as agitation or elevated heart rate, to internally regulate yourself, stay grounded, and retain choice in your reactions.

4. Find Your Resonating Breathwork Practice

Explore various breathwork practices to find one that resonates with you, works effectively, and you are most likely to consistently utilize throughout your day as a foundational tool.

5. Grounding Before Breathwork Practice

Before starting breathwork, find a safe and settled position, close your eyes (if comfortable), and place a hand on your chest or thighs to ground yourself and turn your attention inward.

6. Self-Assess Breathing Depth

Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly to observe whether your breath is shallow in your chest or deep in your belly, providing self-knowledge about your body’s current state.

7. Practice Physiological Sigh Technique

Inhale for a chosen duration (e.g., 3-4 seconds), then exhale for double that duration (e.g., 6-8 seconds), focusing on elongating and sighing all the air out to naturally calm your energy and release tension.

8. Check Body Shifts After Breathwork

After practicing breathwork, take a moment to drop in with your body and notice any shifts in tension or release, such as shoulders dropping or jaw releasing, to become aware of the practice’s effects.