Gentle Postpartum Exercise - 360 Breathing
Teaching you a breathing technique that focuses on muscle control and is a great first step on the road to recovery after birth.
First off — why is breathing important?
WELL, EVERYONE BREATHES AND WHEN YOU DO IT PROPERLY YOU ENGAGE AND STRENGTHEN CORE MUSCLES THAT CAN AID IN FASTER RECOVERY. MUSCLES, NERVES AND HORMONE REGULATION ARE ALL PART OF BREATHING.
What IS 360 Breathing?
IT IS A BREATHING TECHNIQUE THAT FOCUSES ON MUSCLE CONTROL AND IS AN EXCELLENT FIRST STEP FOR POSTPARTUM MOMS. IT'S AN EASY EXERCISE THAT CAN BE DONE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES EACH DAY SO THAT YOU CAN SLOWLY BUILD YOUR STRENGTH UP TO THEN ENGAGE IN OTHER CORE STRENGTHENING EXERCISES.
Faster Recovery
OUR BODIES NEED OXYGEN TO CONVERT OUR FOOD TO ENERGY. THE MORE OXYGEN WE HAVE, THE MORE ENERGY OUR BODY HAS TO WORK ON OUR INJURED MUSCLES AND SKIN AND SO ON. BREATHING PROPERLY ALLOWS MORE OXYGEN TO ENTER THE BODY. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SO EAGER TO "BOUNCE BACK", BUT "BOUNCING BACK" TOO SOON CAN ACTUALLY END UP INJURING YOU. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS EXERCISE AN EASY WAY TO REBUILD THAT STRONG FOUNDATION FOR YOUR BODY.
Reduced Stress
BREATHING PROPERLY STIMULATES THE VAGUS NERVE AND PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, TELLING OUR BODY IT IS OKAY TO RELAX. OUR BODY THEN RELEASES RELAXING HORMONES TO LOWER OUR HEART RATE, LOWER STRESS HORMONES, AND ENCOURAGE REPAIR. THIS HELPS WITH ANXIETY AND RECOVERY.
How To:
FOR PROPER 360 BREATHING,
Sit upright with shoulders back
When you breathe in, your shoulders should not move and you should feel your breath expand into your stomach, back and sides with every inhale.