Elevate the power of your breathing

Swamped with endless projects from work, household duties, general life stuff? Before you start feeling overwhelmed just… breathe.

“Although you cannot control the external stimulus, you can handle your breath to keep yourself in control,” says Breathe In wellness coach Karen Heshusius.

We talked to her about three of the app’s breathing exercises that help you take the reins of your day.

Sequence: 4 – 6
What it’s for: When things become hectic, your breath quickens. By zooming in on inhales of four seconds and longer exhales of six seconds, this breathing exercise helps to slow down your heart rate and relieve tension from your body. It also stimulates your vagus nerve, diminishing the fight or flight response and lowering adrenaline.
Pro tip: The Abdomen takes centre stage. Put your hands on your tummy as you breathe in and out, and feel how it expands and contracts.

Sequence: 4 – 4 – 8 – 4
What it’s for: Focusing on hold intervals of four seconds, this breathing technique helps you connect with your heartbeat and become aware of the here and now. A go-to exercise to keep drama-inducing moments at bay!
Pro tip: Rest both hands on your heart to connect with your pulsations (vital energy). Then let yourself become grounded in the present moment.

Sequence: 6 – 3 – 6 – 3
What it’s for: Striking the right balance between inhalation and exhalation, this exercise helps you activate your circulation (aka “prana”) and elevate oxygen levels, priming your body for self-healing.
Pro tip: Place your tongue behind your top teeth to activate blood circulation – it’s a method high-performance athletes know well.

Company: Hi Mom
Founders: Margarita Acosta and brothers Julián and Steve Urrego
App launched: 2017
Team size: 3
Mission: Craft daily life solutions that blend great design and creativity.
Did you know: Hi Mom is the Colombian developer behind photo and video app Typic 2.

Breathe: Meditation, Breathing

Calm, Focus, Sleep

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