Relaxation Hack

My Pilates instructor often tells our class that the key to Pilates movements is the breath.  While I’m still working on mastering that, as a psychologist I know that a key to achieving a more relaxed state, and even to managing a panic reaction, is deep breathing.  Let me explain why breathing is a powerful and critical tool for changing one’s psychological state, and then I’ll share how to do it right.
Deep breathing works to increase relaxation by introducing more oxygen into our body and decreasing carbon dioxide.  By controlling our breathing in this way our body automatically shifts from the sympathetic nervous system’s “flight, flee or freeze” response to the parasympathetic nervous system response, which redirects oxygenated blood from the muscles back to the brain, allowing us to better use our judgement and reasoning.  The vagus nerve is stimulated and in turn regulates physiological responses such as heart rate and blood pressure while releasing neurotransmitters that improve focus and concentration.  And all this just by breathing.

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