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In this episode of Healing Naturally, Dr. Patricia Wolff from Natural Ways Chiropractic discusses the transformative power of deep breathing for stress management and improved focus.
While breathing is something we do automatically, most of us aren’t breathing deeply enough to experience its full benefits. Dr. Trish Wolff breaks down simple yet effective breathing techniques that can support your well-being on a daily basis.
Learn how making conscious choices about your breath can improve your health moment by moment, helping you feel more energized and optimistic throughout your day.
Hello, it’s your host of Healing Naturally, Doctor Trish Wolff of Natural Ways Chiropractic. I am excited, energized, and optimistic that we can improve our health moment by moment, with choices that support our well-being on a daily basis.
Today, I want to talk about something incredibly simple yet incredibly powerful — deep breathing. Now, I know what you might be thinking. Breathing? We all breathe every day without thinking about it, right? But here’s the thing… most of us are barely breathing at all. We’re taking these shallow, chest-only breaths that keep us in a constant state of low-level stress. And that affects everything — your focus, your mood, your energy, even your pain levels.
Let me break this down for you. When you breathe deeply — really deeply, down into your belly — you activate something called the parasympathetic nervous system. That’s your rest and digest mode. It tells your body, “Hey, we’re safe. We can relax now.” Your heart rate slows. Your blood pressure drops. Tension melts out of your shoulders and neck. I see patients every single day at Natural Ways Chiropractic who carry all their stress right here in their upper back and neck. And you know what? A huge part of that comes from shallow, stressed-out breathing.
So how do you breathe properly? It’s easier than you think. Here’s a technique I teach all the time. Find a comfortable position — sitting or lying down works great. Place one hand on your chest and one hand on your belly. Now, breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of four. One… two… three… four. You want that belly hand to rise while your chest hand stays mostly still. That means you’re filling your lungs from the bottom up. Then pause for just a moment… and exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of six or even eight. One… two… three… four… five… six. Let it all go. Let your shoulders drop.
Do that five to ten times, and I promise you — you will feel different. Calmer. More centered. Your mind will clear. You know what I hear a lot? People tell me they can’t focus at work. They feel scattered, overwhelmed, like they’re constantly behind. Well, deep breathing brings oxygen to your brain. It sharpens your focus. It helps you think more clearly. Try doing two minutes of deep breathing before you start a big project or a difficult conversation. It’s like hitting a reset button for your nervous system.
Here’s what’s interesting — deep breathing also helps with pain. When you’re stressed or anxious, your muscles tighten up. That creates tension headaches, neck pain, low back discomfort. By breathing deeply and calming your nervous system, you can actually reduce that muscle tension. It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a powerful tool that’s always available to you. And it’s free.
Now, I want you to start small. You don’t need to meditate for an hour. Just try this. Set a reminder on your phone three times a day. Morning, midday, and evening. When it goes off, stop what you’re doing and take five deep breaths. Just five. Belly breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Slow and steady. Do that for a week and notice how you feel.
If you’re dealing with chronic stress, tension headaches, or that tight, knotted feeling in your neck and shoulders, this is a great first step. But sometimes your body needs a little extra help getting back into balance. That’s where we come in. At Natural Ways Chiropractic here in Roseville, we look at the whole picture — your nervous system, your posture, your daily habits — and we help your body function the way it’s meant to.
If you’d like to come in and talk about what’s going on with you, we’d love to see you. You can find us online or just give us a call. Thanks so much for listening today. I’m Doctor Trish Wolff, and I can’t wait to connect with you again next time. Until then, take a deep breath… and take care of yourself.
