Here's what you are going to do:

1. Take a really deep breath in. Fill your abdomen and then your chest.
2. When your lungs are full, sniff a little bit more air in through your nose.
3. Hold for 3-4 seconds.
4. Breathe out, slowly. Imagine there is a candle in front of you. You are making the flame flicker but not go out.
5. When your lungs are empty, go back to step 1.
6. Do this 2-3 times and see how you feel.

This technique is scientifically proven to have multiple positive benefits. It should lower your heart rate, lower your stress hormones, lower your blood pressure and lower any acute anxiety.

Unlike other breathing and meditation techniques, you can do it anywhere (maybe just make the in-breath a bit more discrete). I've done it on client calls, in meetings, on aeroplanes, while sat on chairs, lying on beds and standing in fields.

It's called the Huberman breath after Dr Andrew Huberman, the Internet's favourite neuroscientist. He helped to study it and popularise it.

But he would also acknowledge that the Buddhists and Hindus have been at this for millennia.

And anything that lasts that long must have some utility, right?

Let me know how you get on, Stephen

PS If you are reading this I assume you are an adult, capable of making your own decisions. But, if you have any medical conditions that might be affected by this, seek professional advice before you try it. Also, it isn't wise to do anything like this while you are driving or operating machinery. You really can, as Wim Hof likes to say, "Get high on your own supply."

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