Benefits of Deep Breathing

By Saumya in Body

Deep breathing exercises can have a profound effect on one’s state of mind, as well as help one to maintain his/her sanity, especially during challenging times. Intentionally taking a couple of breaths can help ground the mind and create space for growth.

Taking just a few minutes each to practice some breathing can help decrease stress, relax one’s mind, and can help to sleep better.

• Natural painkiller – Deep breathing exercises can help the body to release endorphins which are feel-good hormones and naturally relieve pain.
• Improves blood flow – Deep breathing removes toxins from our body and promotes better blood flow.
• Improves immunity – Deep breathing ensures smoother functioning of the vital organs and better absorption of the vitamins and nutrients. A healthy blood supply helps to ward off infection-causing germs from the base level and strengthens immunity.
• Help to sleep better –  Taking slow, deep, and long breaths before sleep signal the body to return back to a sense of calm and helps to sleep better.
• Improves posture – Deep breathing practices help to straighten up one’s spine structure and hence, improves posture.

When you take slow and steady breaths, your brain gets the message that all is well and activates the parasympathetic response, which slows one’s heart rate and digestion, and promotes feelings of calm, as well as the sympathetic system, which controls the release of stress hormones like cortisol. This further helps to reduce stress, increase alertness, and boost one’s mental space for creativity.