Proper functioning of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) keeps the body in a harmonious state of health. In this state the mood is calm, oxygen and its circulation plentiful, and the body is in a state of perfect regulation. As is often the case, tension, prolonged stress, and the vicissitudes of life can alter the ANS’s balance in the human body, distorting its natural harmonic process. Many conventional and integrative therapies exist that can help to correct this imbalance; however, one of the most powerful ways is by performing controlled breathing, or guided respiration.

Start improving your ANS balance by inhaling through the nostrils for 4 seconds, focusing on breathing with your abdomen, allowing it to expand completely and then release and relax during the exhalation for 6 seconds – repeat this rhythm for 10 minutes, 3 times a day or 6 times a day for 5 minutes.

Brendan Zachar A.P. is a board certified and licensed Acupuncture Physician who specializes in treating pain, stress, and fertility issues at Brevard Center for Integrative Medicine. BrevardCIM.com.