Wellness Wednesday - Breathe to Heal

Let's take a moment, just a moment, and breathe.

Sit for a moment, finding your comfortable seat, so that you are sturdy and grounded.

Relax your shoulders away from your ears.

Place a hand over your heart space, another over your abdomen.

Feel your breath as you breathe naturally.

Just notice where your breath enters your body - through your nostrils? Maybe your mouth?

Feel as it travels through your airways, into your lungs.

Notice how your chest rises and falls. Does your abdomen also rise, or are you holding it tightly?

If you find you are bracing your abdominal muscles, try to relax your abdomen, and notice how that feels.

Notice if your breathing is fast or slow. Is it deep, or shallow?

Just notice.

Begin to notice if your inhales are the same length as your exhales.

Perhaps you can lengthen your exhales a bit? Maybe make them just a bit longer than your inhales, and see how that feels.

Now, try to slow down your breath a bit. Maybe inhaling for a count of 4, and exhaling for a count of 6.

How does this feel?

Can you do this for another 2 minutes? Try setting a timer.

See how just 2-4 minutes of breathing in this way can help calm, center, relax you.

See if you feel a bit more grounded, perhaps a bit more focused.

Feel the rhythm of your breath as it calms, brings you back into balance, connects you back with your body and breath.

Try to do this a few times per day, and see how you feel.

When you are ready, take a deep breath, open your eyes, and get ready for the rest of your day, being more mindful about how you breathe. Congratulate yourself on doing a simple mindfulness exercise, a simple meditation, on your breath.

Cheers,

Meghann