The 2-minute breathing technique to reduce anxiety and destress immediately

Planetary epidemics change with the evolution of time (and in the case of our generation, technology.) We may have fought off the plague but we’re now grappling with stress and anxiety. From a preschooler being pushed to get A grades, learn to read at 2 and play the violin, to his own multi-tasking mum trying to juggle 567 tasks while trying not to have a mental breakdown — the frenetic pace of our lives has made us more and more susceptible to symptoms of stress and anxiety. And if our #instafam is anything to go by, our recent poll results showed 92 per cent saying yes to stress and a meagre, lucky 8 per cent saying they’re free of it.

Luckily, the ancient science of yoga always has the answers — from stretching you out to helping you fall asleep faster, it can be a miracle worker. Los Angeles-based Kundalini yoga teacher Arezu Kaywanfar shows you the one magic breathing technique to reduce anxiety and stress. She also has a truth bomb or two to drop, “We all struggle with anxiety sometimes, but it’s only when we give energy and power to it that it really takes over us.” Remind yourself of this when you’re locked in the office bathroom, trying not to put your annoying co-worker in a stranglehold or spike their drink with laxatives.

Read on for the breathing technique to reduce anxiety that you can employ even at a quiet corner at work:

The 4-7-8 breathing technique to reduce anxiety
“When we’re doing the 4-7-8 breath, you want to inhale really deep and powerfully for the first 4 counts, then hold still for 7, and very smoothly and slowly exhale for the 8 counts (make sure you breathe out slowly so you last all 8 seconds)

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