TAKE CONTROL BY BREATHING
WHY IT WORKS
In 1970, Harvard Medical School cardiologist, Dr Herbert Benson, researched a technique to induce an opposing reaction to the ‘stress response’ – that feeling of anxiety we get that comes from being constantly triggered into fight-or-flight mode by the stressors of modern-day life. He found that we can invoke a ‘relaxation response’ instead, which counteracts the ‘stress response’ through our breath, and the first step is by simply breathing deeply. Yoga, meditation, mindfulness and tai chi all help with stress – and breath is the one factor that connects them all.