Breathing Techniques
Different things work for different people. Therefore it is recommended that the following techniques are practiced to determine what works for you.
Relaxed, slow deep breathing
Breathe in gently through the nose and breathe out through your mouth.
Pursed Lip Breathing
• Relax your neck and shoulder muscles
• Breathe in for 2 seconds through your nose, keeping your mouth closed
• Breathe out for 4 seconds through pursed lips. If this is too long for you, simply breathe out twice as long as you breathe in.
Blow as you go
Use this when you are doing something that makes you breathless, such as standing up.
Breathe in before you make and effort and then breathe out when making the effort. Try using pursed lips while you breathe out.
Paced breathing
This can be useful when you are doing something active, such as climbing stairs.
You pace your steps to your breathing. For example, breathing in when on the stair/step and breathing out as you go up one stair/step.