Two of the easiest and most potent relaxation techniques one can practice are deep breathing and meditation. And the wonderful thing is, these relaxation techniques can be done in mere minutes, nearly anywhere.

Deep Breathing

The first relaxation technique is a deep breathing exercise that can be done in less than one minute, as many times per day as you need.
● Place the tip of your tongue at the top edge of your upper front teeth, where your teeth meet your gums.
● When you inhale, practice belly breathing. To do that, leave your shoulders still instead of scrunching them up around your neck. Also, push your belly outward while you’re inhaling, as if it’s a big balloon filling with air. Inhale to the count of four. Hold it to the count of seven.
● Exhale through your mouth to the count of eight; part your lips, leaving your tongue at the top edge of your upper teeth, and push all the air out of your lungs. This encourages fresh air to reach the very bottom of your lungs, pushes out all the stale air.

Meditation

We’ve heard all the wonders of meditation – it lowers heart rate, alleviates stress and even helps patients with long-term diseases. If you have just 10 minutes a day, even while on the go, you can see the benefits of meditation. Here are some ways to do so:
● Take advantage of unexpected down time during the day. If your computer is taking an especially long time to download files or software updates, nobody’s going to notice if you close your eyes and focus on your breath. If you’re uncomfortable with closing your eyes, just focus your vision on one object.
● Remember to do belly breathing, although there’s no need to hold your breath for specific counts. When thoughts pop into your mind, which they will, gently dispel them and focus on staring at the inside of your eyelids.

Once you engage in this simple yet powerful relaxation technique, you’ll want to meditate more than 10 minutes a day – and you are sure to exude more calm, patience, balance and mental clarity.