Optimum Times for Your Breathing Practice

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Experts will tell you that first thing in the morning and last thing at night are excellent times for a breathing practice. This is because the conscious mind is quiet at these times, making the subconscious easier to access.

I agree with this.   However, I’ve found that any time is a good time to take a moment and do your breathing practice!

Here are times when I pause to breathe slowly, deeply, and gently:

• during rush hour traffic!!!!
• when there is a lot of pressure at work;
• when co-workers, friends, family, loved ones are getting on my nerves;
• when I feel overwhelmed, scattered, and don’t know what to do next;
• when I’m worried, anxious, or fretting over something;
• when I’m sad (it helps me process the sadness and understand where it’s coming from)
• when I’m angry or frustrated or feeling impatient;
• when I’m disappointed or feeling discouraged….

I find that when I take 5 minutes to do a slow, deep, gentle breathing practice I gain control of my emotions. I can take a longer view of situations and feel more hopeful about my options. I may still have uncomfortable feelings but they are no longer running the show. I can experience them without being steamrolled by them.

Turn to your breathing practice the next time you’re feeling out of sorts. Let me know how it works out for you.

Please share this post with your friends and loved ones. Thank you!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

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Breathing Slow and Easy

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Sometimes we get ourselves all gummed up about the things we want to do. We over-think them and make them way more complicated than they need to be.

 

Is this how you’re feeling–frustrated because this seems to hard and is too much to handle? I know I’ve caught myself nearly hyperventilating because I was thinking too much about breathing into my diaphragm then into my lungs and trying to really fill them all the way up to the tippy top.

Oy!

I had to remind myself that all we’re intending to do with this breathing exercise is to slow down and to allow the breath to come into and out of our bodies gently and naturally.   When we slow down, we relax (at least a little bit!). When we relax our muscles aren’t constricting our torsos and abdomens and our bodies can then naturally breathe deeper.

This isn’t about forcing air in or forcing it out. It isn’t about filling our lungs so full that we feel as if we’ll pop!

Slow and easy.   That’s what it’s all about.

Take 5 minutes right now to sit quietly, relax your chest and neck, and slowly, gently, allow the air to come into your body. Then slowly and gently allow the air to leave your body. Repeat this sequence for 5 minutes. I’ll bet you’ll feel better afterward!

Let me know in the comments below! Thanks!

Feel free to forward this post to a friend or loved one. Thank you!

Your gently and slowly breathing Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren