Abstract
This study examined the psychological and physiological effects of breathing for relaxation. The subjects were 10 healthy females in follicular phase. The psychological measure was subjective relaxation on a relaxation scale. The physiological measure was power spectral analysis of heart rate variability. The results suggest that breathing exercise increased calmness and relaxation. As for physiological measurements, the HF index of activity of the parasympathetic nervous system was increased significantly by the breathing exercise, while the LF/HF balance index of the sympathetic nervous system was not changed significantly. Therefore, breathing for relaxation was shown to have psychological and physiological effects, which lead the mind and body to relaxation after stress stimulation. Further investigation will be necessary to clarify the utility and limitations of breathing exercises, including differences in relaxation effects according to sex.
