FAQ 1 What is deep breathing

Deep diaphragmatic breathing is when air is pulled deep into the lungs. This means actively pulling the diaphragm down with each inward breath.

In this way, diaphragmatic breathing helps the lungs fill more efficiently.

Shallow breathing or thoracic breathing is breathing shallowly into the upper rib cage.This type of breathing can lead to panic attacks, cause dry mouth and fatigue, aggravate respiratory problems, and is a precursor for cardiovascular issues. Most of us breathe shallowly into the upper rib cage.

Deep breathing sends an immediate message to the autonomic nervous system (the part of our bodies in charge of the stress response) to calm down by activating the parasympathetic response, or the "rest and digest" response.

The mind and body evolved to respond in this way to keep us safe from threats to our survival, but in today's world, even daily stressors like deadlines and traffic can activate our stress responses. Knowing about how to influence the body's responses is the first step to taking your stress into your own hands.