A to Z of Stopping Smoking

There is good evidence to suugest that simple breathing exercises can reduce urges to smoke. 

There are two main breathing exercises which have been studied. 1. Abdominal breathing: sit upright with your back straight and your shoulders relaxed. Take a breath in so you feel your tummy expand (not your chest) for about five seconds. Then breathe out for five seconds. Try to empty your lungs completely, but make sure you don't strain yourself. Continue breathing in and out for up to five minutes, remembering to stay relaxed. 2. Alternate nostril breathing: sit upright with your back straight and your shoulders relaxed. Put your right thumb over your right nostril to close the airway and breathe in for five seconds through your left nostril. Then place your right forefinger over your left nostril and release your thumb so you can breathe out for five seconds through your right nostril. Use the same method to breath through the right nostril and out through the left. Repeat this process for up to five minutes. Make sure not to strain, it should be relaxing.