07/12/2025
7/11 Breathing - Enjoy the Calming Effect it will have on your body!
Breathing techniques produce a bodily response that lowers your anxiety in a very physical way.
Deep-breathing techniques all have one thing in common: they work by stimulating what is known as the parasympathetic nervous system; so when we feel highly threatened but can’t do anything to change the situation, or know that staying calm would help us, breathing deeply is invaluable. Out-breaths decrease our blood pressure and slow our heart rate –Practising a breathing technique a few times a day can lower our overall stress levels in the long term.
7:11 breathing is one of the most powerful; It is just as it sounds:
1 – breathe in for a count of 7
2 – then breathe out for a count of 11
Make sure that, when you are breathing in, you are doing deep ‘diaphragmatic breathing’ (so when you breathe in try putting your hand on your tummy – it should go out as you breathe in and go in when you breathe out) It is kind of the opposite of what we normally do.
Or if it is easier for you - in for 3 and out to 5, or whatever suits you best, as long as the out-breath is longer than the in-breath.
Continue in this way for 5–10 minutes or longer if you have time – the very act of counting to 7 or 11 is a distraction technique, helping take your mind off your immediate concerns.
I will be sharing more of these techniques along with self-hypnosis practices to enhance your focus and well-being in my 10 week course starting in January in 2 locations.