Abdominal Breathing -

He guided Leo to lie flat on his back. "Imagine your belly is a big, colorful balloon," Grandpa said softly. "When you breathe in through your nose, don't let your chest move. Instead, try to blow up that balloon in your stomach."

"Everything okay, Leo?" his grandfather asked, leaning against the doorframe. abdominal breathing

Leo tried again. This time, he felt his belly push upward against his grandfather’s palm. He guided Leo to lie flat on his back

Grandpa sat down beside him. "You’re breathing with your shoulders, Leo. That’s 'scared breathing.' Let’s try 'mountain breathing' instead." Instead, try to blow up that balloon in your stomach

Leo sat on the edge of his bed, his heart drumming against his ribs like a trapped bird. Tomorrow was the big spelling bee, and every time he thought of the word "encyclopedia," his throat felt tight and his breaths became short, shallow gasps in his upper chest.

"The air is like a deep well," Grandpa said. "When you only breathe from the top, you stay thirsty. But when you breathe from the bottom, you find the quiet water."

If you want to try Leo’s "mountain breathing," follow these steps to calm your nervous system: Belly Breathing [video] - American Lung Association