DARTH VADER BREATHING TECHNIQUE - I made it to fix my shallow breathing when stressed

MY TINY HABIT TO FIX SHALLOW BREATHING WHEN STRESSED - I Exhale a Tiny Bit Extra. I Focus on Making a Slightly Extended Exhale. I call it MY DARTH VADER breathing technique.

Here is my Tiny Habit to fix inadvertent shallow breathing and inadvertent delayed inhalation.

After I notice I'm breathing shallow or I'm delaying my inhalation (usually due to stress or intense concentration), I can fix it if I exhale a Tiny Bit extra each breath.

By that I mean, I sightly emphasize and extend the duration of the exhalation a tiny bit more than needed.

That causes the lungs to be slightly pre-sprung so the next breath happens automatically without delay.

Then the lungs expand into the next breath right away.

I call this my

DARTH VADER breathing technique

because I momentarily forcefully but gently gently breath out just a little more at the end of breath through pursed lips, like one blows out a candle from a distance,

so it so sounds a little like Darth Vader breathing!!!

THAT'S IT! Good luck! May the Force Be With You! (and also May the Schwartz Be With You too! - for all you SpaceBalls fans!). Or read more below for the details and added bonus:

For me, that technique fixes my inadvertent temporary shallow breathing and delayed inhalation.

It works better for me than other breathing techniques that are more complicated.

The important thing about restoring good breathing for me is:

breathing shallow might cause a stress response to occur for me,

breathing shallow might cause heart racing or irregular heartbeat patterns for me (due to lower oxygen and high CO2).

Of course, proper posture is also important for good breathing. Bad posture will inhibit good breathing.

So another Tiny Habit I use is:

After I notice I'm breathing shallow, I will check my posture and fix it if needed.

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/are-you-holding-your-breath-heres-how-and-why-to-stop-pausing

(the link above covers both breath-pausing at the end of Inhalation and end of Exhalation)

ADDED BONUS: I later found out that my "extra long exhale" approach to prime next breath also has another benefit. Extra long exhale stimulates body to create relaxation. Here is a reference I found:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201905/longer-exhalations-are-easy-way-hack-your-vagus-nerve

NOTE: the above are not recommendations. I am just sharing tiny habits that work for me. What is right for me might not be right for you. Always refer to your professional health care providers before making any potentially health-impacting life-style changes.

Please forgive any typos above.