This is a wonderful way to rest and replenish your core after expending energy.
Breathe deep into your abdomen and explore. How much do air can you fit in there?
Is that it? Are you sure there is no more room in your core for more air?
Yes, Your Extremities
Pull more through your nose and push air down your legs to your toes.
See how it goes.
Try again with your arms and hands and fingers.
You may be surprised how much air you can fit in there.
Your Brain And Body Thank You
Do this a few times and each time you exhale pull your abdominal wall in and expel all air.
Be gentle, no need to force yourself. Just explore what you can do.
The point of the exercise is to directly experience the breath in your body and explore how you feel or experience your inhales and exhales.
Stretching your abdominal walls signals to the brain the stomach is full and it’s time to relax.
Bonus Brain Chemistry
The act of focusing your attention on the breath expanding your abdomen creates a little seek, find and reward loop in your brain to get the pleasure chemicals dopamine and serotonin flowing naturally.
This is a double bonus because stretching your abdominal walls directly stimulates the Vagus nerve to release acetylcholine. (Vagus Stuff)
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter which acts a catalyst for other neurotransmitters.
It plays a large role in your body’s relaxation response. Cigarette smokers are looking for this each time they light up. Nicotine in tobacco products mimics acetylcholine and binds to the same receptors in the brain.
This can be useful to know when trying to quit. Your brain will need the real thing.