Mindfulness is a meditative practice that encourages you to bring your attention to the present moment while shutting off everything else in your brain. There are many ways to practice mindfulness, but breathing plays a key part in the exercise.
When you first start a mindfulness session, it can be helpful to turn your full attention to your breathing. The focus on your breath creates an anchor for you to ease into the experience or reset if you find yourself getting distracted.
Not only can taking deep breaths and paying attention to how you breathe help strengthen your diaphragm, but when you breathe mindfully, you tune into where you are, how you’re feeling, and what might be causing you stress. This can help put into perspective the things causing you anxiety and help you find a solution. Sometimes, the breaks from the chaos help us realize what it is we really need.