Mask Wearing, Breathing and Anxiety
Mask wearing can take a while to adjust to. Most people only have to wear one when out and about, and yet some people are needing to wear them all day.
Find a comfortable mask that fits over your nose and mouth. One that is not tight on your ears.
When I first started wearing masks earlier this year I found that over the day many a time I stopped breathing properly and was breathing high up into my chest. By doing this you do not relax your breathing and you do not get enough air into your lungs. This is not good for oxygen intake or your diaphragm. Not to mention it can lead to back discomfort or may increase feelings of anxiety.
Anxiety at this isolation time is not useful and breathing is critical to helping levels of anxiety.
Hence when wearing a mask you have to relax your breathing. Breath thru your nose and breath deeper so your diaphragm moves down as you breath in.
It is a good idea to practice some breathing exercises thru this time and when you are at home get out in the garden without a mask breathing in fresh air.
If anxiety or depression is an issue please let your naturopath practitioner know as we can help the biochemistry to aid the feelings of anxiety. If you need a Remedial massage and it is essential Ben Osborn and Shar Bakken are available at this time.
Two simple breathing exercises.
Put one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach. Take a big breath. Which hand moved? If your chest hand moved more you are breathing shallowly in your lungs. This is not ideal. If your lower hand on your stomach moved more than you are fully breathing into your lungs this is great.
The first exercise is to breath in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 4 seconds and breathe out for 4 seconds. Then extend it by doing the same exercise for 5 seconds, 6 seconds ... 8 seconds if you possibly can.
The second exercise can be used as an exercise or a breathing technique at times of anxiety. Breath in through your nose and blow out of your mouth with many short, strong little breathes. In this exercise you feel the diaphragm moving down as you blowout.