Breath is a tool that is always with you

Most people take shallow breaths and/ or hold their breath often, especially when heightened emotions or stressful situations arise. Taking deep breaths though can create a lot of change in the body thanks to the vagus nerve, acetylcholine, and the brain. The best way to achieve the benefits is to breathe deeply into your diaphragm by slowly breathing in and out through your nose.

“The vagus nerve represents the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees a vast array of crucial bodily functions, including control of mood, immune response, digestion, and heart rate. It establishes one of the connections between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract and sends information about the state of the inner organs to the brain via afferent fibers”. (Breit et al., 2018)

The vagus nerve halts and cancels the fight versus flight syatem. It uses the neurotransmitter acetylcholine allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to calm you down.

Breath is a tool you always have with you! You just have to remember to use it.