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The Power of Breathing Exercises: A Guide to Relaxation and Mindfulness

What exactly are breathing exercises?

Breathing exercises, also known as breathwork, are intentional techniques that help you control your breath to induce a sense of relaxation and calm in both your mind and body. You’ve likely encountered breathwork in yoga classes, guided meditations, or wellness apps like Headspace. These techniques aren’t limited to wellness activities; they can be practiced whenever you need to manage stress effectively.

When you’re anxious, you may notice that your breathing becomes shallow and rapid, often through the mouth and into the upper lungs. This type of breathing restricts airflow and can exacerbate feelings of tension or discomfort. Deep breathing and breathwork can help counteract these effects by promoting relaxation. Research suggests that intentional deep breathing can improve focus and attention, allowing you to respond more skillfully to stressful situations.

How do you practice deep breathing exercises?

You can incorporate them into your daily routine or use them as needed during moments of stress. There are various breathing exercises to choose from, so find the ones that work best for you. Here are a few examples:

  1. Beginner’s Breathing: Count your breaths, inhaling through the nose to the count of 1, exhaling through the mouth to the count of 2, and so on.

  2. Lengthen Exhales: Slow down your heart rate and thoughts by making your exhales twice as long as your inhales. Inhale to the count of 3, exhale to the count of 6 (adjust counts to your comfort).

  3. Belly Breathing: Breathe slowly through the nose, allowing your belly to rise on inhale and fall on exhale. Place a hand on your stomach for better awareness.

  4. Box Breathing: Inhale, hold, exhale, and hold your breath for equal counts, creating a square pattern. For example, inhale to the count of 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold for 4 before inhaling again.

  5. Alternate Nostril Breathing: A yogic technique that balances the brain’s hemispheres. Inhale through the left nostril, close it, exhale through the right nostril, then inhale through the right nostril, close it, and exhale through the left nostril.

Once you’ve completed your deep-breathing exercises, return to your natural breathing pattern. Take a moment to notice how your body and mind feel after this self-care practice.

Breathing exercises are versatile tools that you can use to regain control in stressful situations, enhance mindfulness, and promote relaxation. Experiment with different techniques to discover what works best for you, and incorporate them into your daily routine for improved well-being.

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When your Pilates instructor is like, "Don't worry, only 8 more" 🤣🤣 Happy a happy, healthy and active weekend PARC crew
Thanks for having us today Karingal Hub!

We loved joining the Seniors Day event at Karingal Hub Shopping Centre, and building meaningful connections with our local seniors.

We had a great time chatting with the community about our Active Life membership, available to over 60s. Plus, there is still time to join in our FREE Seniors Festival classes at PARC, learn more via our blog here: https://parc.peninsulaleisure.com.au/events/seniorsfestival2025/
There's still time to complete our Customer Satisfaction Survey! 

Our survey will close this Sunday 26 October, and we would love to hear your thoughts on your experiences at PARC. 

The survey should take only around 10 minutes to complete and you will also go into the draw to win 1 of 3 $100 Rebel vouchers. 

Complete the survey here – Link in bio

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. 

#PARCFrankston #Satisfactionsurvey #Haveyoursay
Spa closed tomorrow, Wednesday 22 October

Please be aware that our Spa is closed for maintenance tomorrow, on Wednesday 22 October.
 
The Steam Room, Sauna and Warm Water Pool remain open as normal.
 
W thank you for your understanding.
Have you visited PARC recently? We’d love to hear from you! 💙

Participating in the survey will help us better understand how you use our Centre, help us find more ways to support you, and better improve your experience at PARC. We really value your input. 

The survey will only take around 10 minutes to complete, and an incentive, all completed surveys go into the draw to win 1 of 3 $100 Rebel Sport Voucher! 

Click the link to complete the survey - Link in bio

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. 

#PARCFrankston #Satisfactionsurvey #Haveyoursay
Unplug24
Join us in going off social media for a day on 24 October. 

Next Friday, on Friday 24 October, we are joining Unplug24, a 24-hour break from social media in solidarity with SmackTalk – an organisation founded by local Wayne Holdsworth to honour his son, Mac, and raise awareness around suicide prevention.

Unplug24 encourages us to step away from social media and reconnect offline to:
🔌 Protect mental health
🔌 Raise awareness to prevent suicide
🔌 Support vital education and awareness programs

Last year, more than 134,000 people took part, proving that sometimes the most powerful connection is offline. This year, SmackTalk is aiming to reach over a million participants in Australia and around the world.

Let’s join together and unplug from all social media for the day – at work and at home – to show our support for this important cause.

Register to join now: https://www.unplug24.smacktalk.com.au/ 

 #Unplug24 #smaktalk

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