What Does It Mean To Truly Relax?

I have had difficulty breathing for the past month and a half now. Every time I try to take a breath, it's like there is a brick wall in my lungs. Once I get to a certain point with my inhale, it just… stops. I feel like I never have enough air! This is frustrating, and leaves me with an underlying sense of panic at all times. Although I think I have had an underlying sense of panic for most, if not all, of my 20 1/2 years of life. 

I have been thinking a lot about what it is that's locking up my diaphragm. So far, I have come to the conclusion it is a combination of stress, anxiety and pushing too hard in my daily pranayama (Yogic breathing) practice. This morning my teachers helped me to take my pranayama down a notch, and I already feel calmer. 

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