A component of relaxation practice. Under stress, most people breathe shallowly and irregularly. Conscious focus on deep, regular breathing helps bring awareness to points of tension in the body and gives the mind a break from worrying over the challenges of the moment. Deep breathing is also a good practice if you are quitting smoking: every time you have an urge to light a cigarette, step back from what you are doing, breathe deeply, and maybe stretch a little, for a couple of minutes.