Have you noticed that the more stressed you as a dentist are or your patients are, the shallower your/their breaths become?

If you want to settle down or you want to settle down your patients, both of you need to learn how to power breathe.

Power breathing or deep breathing is the foundation of stress management, meditation, prayer and re-centering.

Deep breathing is simple, remembering and following your breath over time is challenging. I continually need to relearn the benefits of power breathing.

How do you power breathe?

Instead of breathing shallowly from the upper part of your diaphragm, take deep belly breaths from the lower part of your diaphragm.

Try it now – take four deep down long belly breaths. Notice non judgmentally the difference in how you feel when you breathe this way and your normal breath patterns.

Power breathe when you are feeling stressed; before you go to bed; when you arise in the morning; in the middle of the night when the beasts of the night assail you; when you wash your hands between patients; before you pray; when your staff or a patient drive your nuts; when your kids do the same; when you play sports or perform or whenever you notice you are feeling stressed.

Help your patients, team members and family learn to do the same.

Do it now and p.r.n.