Introduction
The Best Ways to Reduce Stress: Breathing Exercises and Tapping
In the last few blog posts, I wrote about different strategies you can implement to help you manage stress. If you have been looking for ways to lower stress, then this series of articles, along with my Stress Management 21-Day Challenge can help you better manage stress and anxiety in your life.
Also, you might have come across both breathing exercises and tapping. Each of these strategies is extremely beneficial for reducing stress, anxiety, and many other mental health challenges you may experience.
That said this post briefly covers deep breathing exercises to manage stress as well as an overview of tapping.
Embracing Breathing Exercises to Reduce Stress
Breathing techniques are powerful tools for relieving stress and promoting relaxation. Deep, mindful breathing can help calm the nervous system, lower heart rate, and reduce cortisol levels, which are the hormones associated with stress.
When you breathe deeply, you take in more oxygen and release more carbon dioxide. Deep breathing exercises can also help to reduce inflammation and improve sleep.
Deep breathing exercises can be done at any time, wherever you are. They are a quick and easy way to unwind and de-stress, and they can also help with anxiety and sleep. If you are new to deep breathing exercises, start slowly and progressively increase the length of time you practice. Deep breathing exercises can help you reduce stress, boost your mood, and improve your general health with frequent practice.
Here are some additional benefits of deep breathing exercises:
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Improves sleep quality
- Increases energy levels
- Improves focus and concentration
- Boosts the immune system
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces pain
- Improves skin health
- Promotes weight loss
If you are looking for a natural way to improve your health and well-being, deep breathing exercises are a great option. They are simple, effective, and can be done anywhere, at any time.
Here’s a simple breathing technique you can practice:
What is Tapping?
Tapping, or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), is an all-encompassing approach to emotional health and stress management. The technique involves making light, rhythmic taps on acupuncture points while concentrating on a problem or feeling. Tapping helps to relieve emotional and physical stress. It draws on both traditional Chinese acupressure and Western psychological concepts.
During a tapping session, a person identifies a specific emotion or issue they want to address, such as anxiety, fear, or pain. They then use their fingertips to gently tap on specific eft tapping points on the face, body, and hands while repeating affirmations or statements related to the issue. The tapping process is designed to help release and rebalance the body’s energy flow, while simultaneously addressing the emotional or physical discomfort.
Often, tapping is used as a self-help tool for managing stress, anxiety, phobias, and other emotional challenges. In addition, practitioners use it in combination with other therapies. Many people find tapping for anxiety and depression helpful. Because it’s a simple, yet effective way to reduce emotional distress, calm the nervous system, and to feel relaxed.
To use tapping to reduce stress, follow these simple steps:
Conclusion
Breathing Exercises along with tapping can prove to be valuable tools in your self-care arsenal. Practicing them until they become habits will help you keep unwanted stress at bay. These types of breathing exercises as well as tapping can help you manage stress and enhance your mental wellbeing. Practice often so that they become a ritual.
I hope you find this post helpful and that you’re able to use the breathing exercises to enhance your self-care regimen. Further, if you’ve never tried tapping and wonder if there’s any reason why tapping should be avoided, do some research and talk to a naturopathic doctor. You owe it to yourself to do what it takes to manage stress and stay in control of your emotions.
Have you ever tried tapping? Do you practice deep breathing exercises? Please share your experience with us by commenting below.
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