Used for thousands of years by yogis, this calming breathing technique brings clarity and confidence. Done correctly, Ujjayi breathing can help to regulate blood pressure, encourage the free flow of oxygen through the body, detox the mind and body, and de-stress. 

Try it Seal your lips—but be mindful not to tense your whole face—and inhale slightly deeper than normal through your nose. Keeping your mouth closed, do a slow, controlled exhale through your nose while constricting the muscles in the back of your throat. This will create a kind of deep hissing sound. Observe how the sound resembles that of rolling waves, creating an ocean of calm within. Repeat. 

This is one of the fastest and easiest breathing techniques to help you slow down, reduce any anxiety you're feeling and recalibrate.

Try it Close your eyes and inhale through your nose, slowly counting to four. Hold that breath for another four seconds. Now exhale from your mouth, and slowly count to four. Hold again for four, then start the cycle again. 

If you struggle with holding your breath, or if this creates more stress for you, you can adjust this exercise by simply inhaling for four and exhaling for four. Just remember to go slow. 

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We're often so consumed by our daily tasks that we don't realise how much tension we're holding—whether it's in our eyes and face from staring at screens for too long, or in our shoulders from hunching over our desks. It's important to check in with our bodies now and then to counter any tension we've unintentionally created. 

Try it Progressive muscle relaxation works by using your breath to tense and then release individual muscle groups and body parts. 

On your inhale, close your eyes tight, and when you exhale, relax the eyelids. Repeat this technique with different areas of your body: your nose, cheeks, jaw, neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, arms, hands, buttocks, legs, feet. You can go top-down from eyes to toes, or from the bottom up. 

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This simple breathing technique can be done sitting, standing or lying down. Personally, this is my favourite technique for when I struggle to fall asleep as it helps to ground me and shift my focus from any wandering thoughts. 

Try it It's super straightforward and easy—inhale, and when you exhale, count "ten", inhale, and on your next exhale, count "nine" and so on, until you count all the way down to zero. Start again if necessary. The key here is to take a slow, controlled breath for each count. 

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