Your breath has the capacity to ease pain and soften tension. By breathing more deeply and bringing your breath down into your belly, you will feel a greater sense of peace and less stress in your mind and body. When you breathe from you chest you only oxygenate ½ teacup of blood per breath, you might even experience symptoms of anxiety and fear. When you breathe from your belly, you oxygenate a liter of blood per breath, releasing pain and stress symptoms.
When you concentrate on breathing, your mind is able to gather all its scattered energies. Your mind becomes much more focused, quiet, and clear. In fact, when you focus on your breathing, you are truly in the present moment. You are able to shift from one state of consciousness to another. The yogi’s tell us that breath is the life force. That is why it is so powerful to breathe into your difficulties. Breathing moves them, transforms them, and even releases them.
You first pay attention to what’s bothering you, and then breathe into your issues and breathe them out deeply. This can transform your life experiences and enhance your mental and physical well-being.
Enjoy the practice below several times throughout the day.
Breathe into the count of 4 repeating
“Breathe in Peace and Calm”
Pause to the count of 4, as you feel the oxygen move through your bloodstream, then
Breathe out to the count of 8 repeating:
“Breathe out Stress and Tension”
Play with different wording to fit your own breathing and release needs.
For further information go to www.hendricks.com and read more about “Conscious Breathing” or check out “The Breathing Box” by Gay Hendricks sold at Whole Foods and other Wellness focused stores.
Jolene’s audio greetings:
