“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” ~Jon Kabat-Zinn

This breathing practice is soothing, especially when you find yourself particularly emotional.

You can use it throughout the day, whenever you feel stressed or anxious and need to calm down.

To drop deep below the surface of your emotional waves, into the depths of your breath and into your core:

* Relax your shoulders and observe the natural rhythm of your breath as you breathe in and out through your nose.

* Then place your hands along the lower part of your rib cage.

* Inhale and feel your two lowest ribs widen. Imagine your lungs as a balloon expanding in every direction.

* Continue to inhale, filling your mid-chest with air.

* Finally fill your upper-chest.

* Exhale slowly, smoothly and completely, drawing your ribs together.

To enhance the calming effect, slow your breath and extend your exhalation.

If at anytime you feel tension or the need to gasp for air, return to your normal breathing pattern and breathe at your own pace.

Breathing diaphragmatically stimulates the vagus nerve and relaxes your nervous system, shifting you out of a fight or flight reaction and into a gentle state of restorative awareness.

This simple technique helps you self-regulate so you can respond rather than react to life and focus your attention on what feels good.

All the best,

Joya

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