Relax and Breathe

As we travel through life, following the uncertain path ahead we may find the twists and turns just too much to handle.

For many of us the COVID lockdown sent us indoors or even worse into isolation. Whatever the outcome this intense 12 month+ period has made us STOP. We have been forced to review and re-align what is truly needed in our life. The basics have became the essentials to keep us strong and positive. The luxury of free movement became a memory.

I noticed as I went through this journey, how many more people were going inward to find their calm during the height of the pandemic. More and more people were looking for yoga online, meditation, Tia Chi, mindfulness training and so the list goes.

How ironic it takes a tragedy, such as the pandemic to make us review how we are living our lives. It seems the result of ‘taking away’’ the norm, caused an increase in anxiety on many varying levels - obviously depending upon your personal circumstances and personality.

Wouldn't it be a waste if we did not now address this awakening? Bring the new skills we have practiced into our lives for the long-term. Perhaps create a more fulfilling and resilient life for ourselves and our family. I am sure that there will be a temptation, when the wheels start turning again and people start moving, that we may want to speed up and may even forget ourselves once more! But I hope not. WE can use this crisis as a pivotal point to improve the quality of lives for many of us.

During the pandemic I discovered that the best gift you can give yourself is the awareness of your breath. It seems so many people seem to be talking more and more about the benefits of breathwork.

So why not give it a go, if you have not already?!

How to find the breath? How does it work?

Decide on a good time to try, preferably mornings.

Find a quiet space to sit and take a minute, close your eyes and try to listen to your breath.

See if you can notice or visualize where the breath starts and ends, like a wave on the shore.

If you like, you can start to practice box breathing - Breathe in slowly for count of 4 - Pause for 4 -Breathe out for 4.

Do several rounds of box breathing and then return to normal breath.

For extra focus you may find it helpful to do a short body scan, travel through the body with your mind from your feet to your head and back again.

The body scan can help settle and focus the mind away from your inner thoughts.

You do not need long to practice the breathing exercise and don’t be worried if you are not following any specific pattern - it is not a maths test.

Be just you and your breath. Build up from a minute to perhaps 5 minutes and so on…

In time, you may notice how your breath and heart rate slows down, you may become more connected to your own physical rhythm.

By practising breath awareness you are becoming more mindful and you are naturally calming your nervous system from the inside out!

You will be powerfully present but experience a sense of clam.

If you find the breath practice has helped you and it may be something you wish to continue I recommend you follow an audio meditation practice to develop your practice.

The audio versions are better for meditation than visual.

Enjoy your breathwork and simply breathe. Keep practicing. 😊