Insights from VITAL WorkLife

Mindfulness Monday: Focused Breathing Exercise

Written by Amy Tiffany | November 4, 2019

In our Mindfulness Monday video series with VITAL WorkLife Consultant Dr. Yael Rubin, PhD, LP, we’ve shared two mindfulness exercises—the cognitive shuffle and a breathing exercise, with counting, to help manage stress.

In this video, Maureen Dorgan Clemens, MS, LCPC, CADC, CPDC, guides you through a mindful breathing exercise to help reduce stress and elicit the relaxation response.

When we’re stressed, we develop shallow, rapid breathing. To elicit a feeling of relaxation, we need to slow this breathing down. For this exercise it’s important to really focus on your breath, and take slow, deliberate breaths in and out. Do this exercise 2-3 times and you’ll feel a significant difference in your stress and how you’re feeling.

This is a quick, 90-second exercise you can do anywhere, anytime. It can be used in-the-moment to reduce stress and help regain control of difficult situations. 

 

If you are feeling stressed, we encourage you to watch any of these mindfulness videos and complete the exercises to help you relieve stress. In two weeks, we’ll wrap up our mindfulness video series—subscribe to our blog to receive daily or weekly updates from VITAL WorkLife.

We Can Help

VITAL WorkLife counselors are available to assist you in finding efficient ways to build mindfulness into your daily life. We can direct you to online resources, classes available in your own community and can also offer simple strategies and techniques to help you have a more mindful approach to your work and personal life. Additionally, download our article Mindfulness in Medicine: How Mindfulness Can Help Support Physician Well Being.

  • Physician Well Being Resources Members: Contact us at 877.731.3949 to access your resources today.
  • EAP Members: Contact us at 800.383.1908 to access your resources today.
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You can contact us online to learn more about our solutions to support the well being of your employees.