I Have a What? A Guide for Coping with Moderate-to-Severe TBI

I Have a What?!:A Guide for Coping with Moderate-to-Severe TBIIf this method seems to be helpful for you, you may want to try practicing this kind of relaxationmethod for a few minutes everyday. You may want to learn more about yoga andabout the different stretches that you can do to help relax.Method #3: Deep BreathingThis is from both the East and the West. It is an important part of all relaxation exercises.This breathing exercise focuses on helping you breathe in a way that is easy and relaxed.You will learn to pay attention to breathing in a way that is slow, even, and full. Deepbreathing can be restful and give you energy at the same time.Let’s try it:We’ll try two types, one that is active, and one that is quiet.Active: First, slowly bow down and breathe out, and then sit up and reach upwhile breathing in.Let your arms hang limply to each side. Take a deep breath, filling yourchest and abdomen. Then slowly and easily let the air out through yournose and slowly, smoothly, and gently bow over in your chair. Let gravitypull your chest and head toward your knees, squeezing out all the air asyou bow farther and farther. Do this as smoothly and gently as possible.Then, when you are ready to inhale, slowly, smoothlyand gently sit up while raising your arms higher andhigher in front of you. Reach up to the sky and stretchas you take a good complete breath.Then, when you are ready, again slowly, smoothly andgently lower your arms and bow over while breathingout. Then, inhale and gently sit up, raising your arms.Keep doing this at your own pace. Do this for about a minute.Quiet: Our second breathing exercise is much more quiet. All you need to do ispay attention to how you are breathing. Often this is a very good way of calmingdown and helping to relax.Page 66