SHELLEY BRUCAR
BREATHING
A baby breathes deeply – into the abdomen. As adults, our breathing becomes shallow and ineffective; we are not fully inhaling new, fresh air, and we are not fully exhaling used air. So here’s what you want to do:
Sit or lie down and get totally comfortable. You don’t want your body to be rigidly upright, and you don’t want to be slouched over. Your body should be aligned so the breath can flow.
Close your eyes. Focus your attention on your breathing, and let go of everything else for the moment.
Inhale deeply and slowly. Imagine your breath going all the way down to your toes.
Take even longer to exhale than to inhale. Let the breath out as completely as you can. Sometimes, it helps to count during the inhale, and then try to count a little higher during the exhale.
As you inhale, bring in good feelings.
As you exhale, release negativity.
Breathe deeply like this for 4-5 minutes, and feel your body unwinding.
So now, I encourage you to take 5 minutes, 2-3 times per day, to practice breathing as described above. If you practice, it will become more natural, and this simple relaxation tool will be there for you when you most need it.
Deep breathing not only relaxes your body; it also relaxes your mind and reduces the unwanted clutter up there. When you’re relaxed, you will feel more focused on whatever you’re doing. So taking a little time each day to practice breathing will pay off hugely in increased productivity and serenity.