Try Jorge Cruise’s Favorite Breath Technique When You’re Anxious or Stressed

If you’ve been paying attention to what’s trending in health and fitness, then you know that countless health and wellness experts have been praising the power of controlled breathing, ranking it up there with meditation and high-intensity interval training for maintaining a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle.

Celebrity trainer Jorge Cruise has been experimenting with breath work for almost a decade.

“Eight years ago when I was going through what was the hardest time in my life, I discovered the power of breath work. I experimented with different techniques and tested them out during times of chronic stress,” Cruise says.

We asked Cruise to share his favorite breath technique.

• Inhale through your nose for four counts.
• Hold that breath for seven counts.
• Exhale slowly for eight seconds. Focus on pushing the air out of your stomach instead of your chest.
• Repeat this breath pattern for a couple of minutes.

“Do this as many times as you need per day and you will lower your blood pressure, improve the oxygen in your cells, sharpen your memory and reduce stress,” Cruise says.

Photo credit: Cassandra Hamer, Unsplash