Breathe in Deeply, then Exhale

Maintaining the quality of your breath will help you stay relaxed and on top form.

Deep breathing is one of the most effective ways to lower stress in the body.

When you inhale deeply, your heart rate increases slightly and as you exhale it slows. Repeated deep breaths should bring your heart rate more in alignment with your breath. This causes the brain to release endorphins which have a calming effect on the mind and body.

Try to integrate this simple breathing exercise from the NHS into your daily routine.

You should aim to keep it going for three to five minutes.

Meditation

Research shows that meditation can improve neuroplasticity, known as the ‘muscle building’ part of the brain. The brain uses 20% of the body’s oxygen supply and deficit can leave you feeling dazed, stressed and unproductive.

The Nadi Shodhan Pranayama (or Alternate Nostril Breathing) yoga technique is a great way to calm the nervous system and relieve tension and anxiety. In this video, yoga expert Adriene shows us how it’s done.