11/27/2025
Slow breathing using your diaphragm (belly breathing) rather than shallow chest breathing, with longer exhales than inhales, activates your vagus nerve, triggering your relaxation response (parasympathetic nervous system) 😌
➡️ Just a few minutes of diaphragmatic breathing has been shown to lower cortisol, reduce emotional arousal, and improve prefrontal control over the limbic system, leading to better regulation of stress and emotions (Ma et al., 2017)
Try this: inhale gently through your nose for 4 seconds, letting your belly rise like a balloon. Then exhale slowly through your mouth for 6 seconds, pursing your lips as if blowing out candles. Repeat for a few minutes and notice how you feel 💕
