Breathing to influence your emotions: cardiac coherence
The heart contains as many neurons as a dog's brain. In a lifetime, it beats an average of 1.5 billion times and filters 200 million liters of blood! It reacts according to the information given by the brain: stress, emotions... But did you know that it can also communicate with the brain to influence it?
The principle
Cardiac coherence allows controlling one’s breathing to regulate the autonomic nervous system. Indeed, the variability of heart rate reflects the state of sympathetic and parasympathetic balance.
The benefits
Thus, the practice of cardiac coherence allows to reduce: stress, risk of palpitations, anxiety, high tension, cortisol, depression...
How to benefit from it?
The key word is: BREATHING.
Improve cardiac coherence by breathing in frequency six: To start, we're going to practice breathing at a frequency of six, which means six breaths per minute for three minutes, three times a day, and every day of the week. Consistency is essential.
To promote relaxation, the frequency could become "three - seven". That is to inhale for three seconds, then exhale for seven seconds so that the complete respiratory cycle lasts ten seconds. Six times ten seconds make sixty seconds, which is one minute. Let's repeat that a minimum of three minutes is requested. It is possible, even recommended, to extend the exercise if desired.
2 useful applications for beginners
Respirotec, available on Apple and Android
Respirelax, available on Apple and Android
Have you tried it yet? Do you use this kind of tool regularly? Tell us more in the comments!
