On the exhale the reverse occurs with the chest receding first and then the stomach. Concentrate on slow and deep breathing. Heat promotes muscle relaxation. Hot baths, sauna, whirlpool and dry heat can be helpful parts of a relaxation program. Practice your other techniques such as meditation, stretching and breath control during and after using heat.
Exercise stretches muscles, deepens breathing and burns off accumulated stress.
Immediately after exercise, focus on your breathing as it changes from the deep and rapid breathing your body required during exertion. Feel it slow down and try to maintain its fullness and openness as you recover from your exercise. At this time also focus your mind on relaxation and stretch your muscles. Practice full relaxation of twenty or thirty minutes daily. Also, try to practice a mini-relaxation response of a minute or so several times per day.