Belly breathing exercise

A belly breathing exercise is a relaxation technique. It can help stress, anxiety and panic.

How to do the exercise

To practice:

1. Sit in a comfortable chair or lie down.
2. Put one hand on your tummy and one hand on your chest.
3. Close your mouth and take a slow, deep breath in through your nose.
4. Blow the air out slowly and gently through pursed lips.
5. Continue to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth for 3 to 5 minutes.

Breathing exercise tips

You could build up the length of this exercise over time.

It can be helpful to count steadily from 1 to 5 as you breathe in, and again when you breathe out. You may not be able to reach 5 at first.

When you breathe in, you want your tummy to get bigger. Try to move your tummy but not your chest.

Every time you breathe in, let your breath flow as deep down into your belly as is comfortable, without forcing it.