Breathing slowly and deeply in through the nose and out through the mouth with a soft and relaxed belly can increase the body’s exchange of oxygen. This technique also stimulates the body’s rest and relaxation response. It quiets the areas of the brain that register fear and anger. By practicing soft belly breathing, we can increase self-awareness, improve decision making, slow our heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and promote relaxation. This breathing technique quiets the “fight-or-flight” re