Breathing Exercises on Depression in Postmenopausal Women

Participants will be directed to position their hands on the rectus abdominis muscle located under the anterior chest wall while resting in a hook position. They will be instructed to inhale slowly and deeply via the nostrils, expanding their abdomen without raising their upper chest, and resting their shoulders. Following the cessation of respiration, the woman will slowly exhale by pursing her lips. A respiratory cycle will consist of a three-second inhalation, a three-second pause, and a six-second exhalation. The diaphragmatic training regimen will consist of doing 3-5 sets of 5-10 deep breaths, with 2-minute intervals of rest in between sets.

The women will participate in aerobic training on cycle ergometer. Each session will consist of 30-45 minutes of cycling at a moderate intensity, accompanied by a workout heart rate ranging from 65% to 75% of the maximal heart rate and ranging between 12 and 14 on the Borg rating of perceived exertion 20-point scale. After ten minutes of warm-up, every session will end with a brief 3-minute period of cool-down.