Body Language of Deep Breathing
Cue: Deep Breathing.
Synonym(s): Relaxed Breathing, Breathing Slowly, Calm Breathing.
Description: The breath rate slows with fewer less frequent breaths but with air moving much deeper into the chest.
In One Sentence: Deep breathing is a sign that one is in a relaxed state of mind.
How To Use it: Use deep breathing to embody a relaxed state of mind. Deep breathing can help one fall asleep faster and help oxygenate the blood. As deep breathing is associated with deep sleep it can bring the mind to a place of peace and calm. When done fully awake, deep breathing is a form of meditation. A big deep breath may alert others to your suffering, so it should be used only when you want to let others be aware of your discomfort.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “I’m relaxing so I’m breathing more smoothly and deeply.”
Variant: See Shallow Breathing.
Cue In Action: As he began meditating, his breath rate decreased with few deeper breaths.
Meaning and/or Motivation: Deep breathing indicates relaxation such as when sleeping or meditating.
During a state of elation, people will often take deep breaths. They might gesture outwardly and expand their arms. The winning sports team will often be seen with their arms extended, their heads thrown back, and their mouths and eyes opened wide in a state of ecstasy.
Deep breathing can also be an indication of anger as air is drawn into the lungs in order to prepare for fight or flight.
Cue Cluster: The head, arms, and legs will be lose, eyes and face relaxed with no tension. When deep breathing is due to anger, tension will come across the face. The mouth might turn down, the eyes squint and the nose sneer or flair.
Body Language Category: Autonomic signal, Relaxed body language.
Resources:
Allen, Ben ; Friedman, Bruce H. Positive emotion reduces dyspnea during slow paced breathing. Psychophysiology. 2012 49(5): 690-696.
Beidel, D. C., Turner, S. M., & Dancu, C. V. (1985). Physiological, cognitive and behavioral aspects of social anxiety. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 23, 109–117.
Brown, Richard P ; Gerbarg, Patricia L. Sudarshan Kriya yogic breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression: part I-neurophysiologic model. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine . 2005. 11(1): 189-201.
Boiten, Frans A. The effects of emotional behaviour on components of the respiratory cycle. Biological Psychology. 1998. 49(1): 29-51.
Drummond, P. D., & Quah, S. H. (2001). The effect of expressing anger on cardiovascular reactivity and facial blood flow in Chinese and Caucasians. Psychophysiology, 38, 190–196.
Ekerholt, Kirsten Bergland. Breathing: a sign of life and a unique area for reflection and action. Astrid Physical therapy. 2008 88(7): 832-40.
Geronemus, Hillary. Breathe Through It. Women’s Health. 2010. 7(3): 068
Hunter, Virginia. Clinical clues in the breathing behaviors of patient and therapist. Clinical Social Work Journal. Summer. 1993 21(2):161-118
Kossowsky, Joe ; Wilhelm, Frank H. ; Schneider, Silvia. Responses to voluntary hyperventilation in children with separation anxiety disorder: Implications for the link to panic disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 2013. 27(7): 627-634.
Sand-Jecklin, Kari. Patient Anxiety Levels Related to Gynecologic Examinations: Use of the Color Breathwork Relaxation Method. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2008. 22(4): 240-242.
Tainsky, Al. Calm, cool, collected: a meditation primer. Inside MS, Wntr. 2002. 20(1): 24(4).
Van Der Zee, Sophie; Ronald Poppe; Paul J. Taylor; and Ross Anderson. To Freeze or Not to Freeze A Motion-Capture Approach to Detecting Deceit.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/detect-lies-whole-body-nonverbals-new-lie-detector-successful-using-body-language-70
Zvolensky, M. J., & Eifert, G. H. (2001). A review of psychological factors/processes affecting anxious responding during voluntary hyperventilation and inhalations of carbon dioxide-enriched air. Clinical Psychology Review, 21, 375–400.