Overcoming My Fear of Flying with Some Breathing Techniques
Conquer Your Fear of Flying Unlock the Joys of Travel with This Powerful Breathing Technique
This breathing technique helped me overcome my fear of flying and enjoy traveling for the first time.
Senior News Reporter Sophia Ankel.
A few months ago, I made a brave decision—it was time to face my fear of flying head-on. So, I mustered up the courage and signed up for the fear-of-flying course with British Airways. Little did I know, this experience would not only be helpful, but also gave me some unexpectedly amusing moments.
The course was designed to equip nervous flyers with techniques to conquer their fears, which for me included the dreaded turbulence and take-off. I was skeptical at first, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.
During the course, we were introduced to the “Breathe and Squeeze” technique. Now, before you start thinking this has something to do with juice cleanse diets or exercise, let me clarify. This technique involves slowly inhaling air through the nose while squeezing the glutes and pelvic area. Yes, you read that right—squeeze those glutes! Apparently, it helps calm you down during those heart-racing moments on the plane.
Fast forward to my recent flight to Greece to visit my family. This was a big moment for me, as it was my first time flying since completing the course. I could practically hear the theme song from “Rocky” playing in my head as I boarded that plane.
Everything was smooth sailing until about 20 minutes after take-off when the plane started shaking. Panic started to creep in as my palms grew sweaty and my breathing became shallow. I peeked around, hoping to find someone else in a similar state, but to my surprise, everyone seemed as calm as a cucumber. That’s when I remembered the glorious “Breathe and Squeeze” technique—time to unleash the power of the glutes!
I decided to give it a shot, thinking, “What’s the worst that could happen?” To my astonishment, after about two minutes of inhaling and squeezing, my racing heart started to slow down, and the tension in my body began to evaporate. I couldn’t believe it.
Now, let me set one thing straight. The turbulence didn’t magically disappear. Oh no, it continued for a solid hour, shaking the plane like an overenthusiastic toddler. However, armed with my newfound breathing technique, I somehow managed to embrace the madness. It wasn’t the most comfortable experience, but it was definitely bearable. I never thought I’d say this, but turbulence became my buddy that day.
As the turbulence finally simmered down, the cabin crew came around with the food trolley. Feeling like a conqueror, I nonchalantly ordered some chips and a cheeky drink. I plugged in my headphones, pulled out a book, and for the first time ever, I truly relaxed during a flight.
Looking back, I cannot help but chuckle at the unexpected journey of learning proper breathing techniques on a plane. Who knew that squeezing those glutes could be the secret to unlocking a newfound sense of calm amidst chaos?
If you find yourself panicking on a turbulent flight, don’t hesitate to take a deep breath, squeeze those glutes, and embrace the wild ride. Who knows? You might even enjoy it, just like I did.
