The American Lung Association teaches kids that if they learn to relax, they can ward off an asthma attack – or stop one in its tracks. The following exercise, practiced for five minutes a day, can be ‘turned on’ whenever the chest starts to feel tight or other warning signals arise. And it works wonders for adults, too!
1. Stand up and make all your muscles very tight. Then take a deep breath. Point your chin up to the ceiling and grit your teeth. Hold your arms out straight. Keep your elbows tight, your fists tightly closed, your legs stiff and your toes stiff. Hold for a few seconds.
2. Now, let everything go, like a balloon that’s being deflated. Completely relax all your muscles until you feel like a wet noodle or a rag doll.
3. Flop to the floor in a lying position and stay there. Close your eyes. Keep your arms limp and loose. Your face and feet are limp, too.
4. Picture yourself floating down a river. Concentrate on each muscle and how nice and floppy it feels.
5. Breathe softly and easily, as if you were cosy and fast asleep in your bed. Stay quiet and droopy, and feel how pleasant it is.
6. Open your eyes. Turn on the relaxed, ‘wet noodle’ feeling whenever you feel nervous or short of breath, or feel an asthma attack coming on.
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