Breathing Exercises

Integrative Medicine at UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin, works in partnership with our patients, health care providers and other individuals to facilitate and sustain each person's health, healing and well-being.

Breathing Practices

Breathing practices can help to intentionally create a calm state of mind and body. They provide a safe and easy way to induce a relaxed state and can help soothe you when you're upset or even help you fall asleep.

Breathing for Relaxation Exercise

Listen to Surya Pierce, MD, as he leads your through a 7-minute breathing exercise that may help you relax and experience a calmer state of mind.

In this moment, do something just for you.

Introduction to Exercise

In this brief introduction, listen as Dr. Pierce explains how the breathing exercise works and how it may help you relax.

Breathing Exercise

To begin the exercise, find a quiet spot, away from distraction.

About This Exercise

Through the exercise, you will focus on breathing through the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is shaped like an upright dome that separates the chest from the abdomen. When you breathe, the dome flattens out creating a partial vacuum that draws air into the lungs. When you exhale, the dome rises to push air back out of the lungs.

It can be helpful to visualize the movement of the diaphragm through the exercise, but it is not necessary.

Through practice, you can learn to gain the benefits of relaxation more and more easily, much like opening and closing a hand.

Note: Please work with your health care practitioner to use this information in the best way possible to promote your health.

About Dr. Pierce

Surya Pierce, MD, a clinical instructor with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Family Medicine, has a strong interest in integrative medicine. A teacher of ashtanga yoga, Dr. Pierce works closely with UW Health's Integrative Medicine program.