BREATH Awareness

Hello dear Self-Care Goddesses,

Happy Wednesday!

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Sharing gratitude can improve social bonds. People have reported feeling more loved and more connected to others in their lives when they routinely practice gratitude or those around them practice gratitude.

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How does breathing affect stability?

The way we breathe has a significant reciprocal relationship with our posture and mobility. A less-than-optimal breathing pattern causes tension and immobility, that prevent optimal breathing. Breath awareness through mindful breathing teaches us to become aware of thoughts that are coming in and out of our attention. With this awareness, we observe the transient nature of thoughts. We then develop the ability to choose to pay attention to them or not.

Slow, deep abdominal breathing exercises enhance posture, result in greater relaxation and strengthen our intention resulting in physical and mental stability.

Join the monthly online New Moon Breathwork Experience and learn exercises that will help you master nose breathing, enhance lung function and reduce stress. Purchase your online tickets here.

Simply observing the breath can damp down stress and open a door to a healthier and more mindful lifestyle. A person typically takes between 17,000 and 30,000 breaths per day, every day. Bring your attention to this normal occurrence for a few minutes daily for health benefits, documented by growing research evidence. And, pausing for a 2-minute breathing break is a great way to enjoy a quick refresher in the midst of a hectic day, especially if it’s a work from home day.

Conscious breathing or ‘breath awareness’ practices simply means that you pay attention to your breath. You make no effort to control or change it. Conscious breathing is easiest as it only requires observing the breath. It’s a valuable practice, particularly if you’re interested in meditation, since it’s an important meditation skill.

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The diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle at the base of the lungs, plays an important role in breathing — though you may not be aware of it. When you inhale, your diaphragm contracts (tightens) and moves downward. This creates more space in your chest cavity, allowing the lungs to expand. When you exhale, the opposite happens — your diaphragm relaxes and moves upward in the chest cavity.

All of us are born with the knowledge of how to fully engage the diaphragm to take deep, refreshing breaths. As we get older, however, we get out of the habit. Everything from the stresses of everyday life to the practice of “sucking in” the stomach for a trimmer waistline encourages us to gradually shift to shallower, less satisfying “chest breathing.”

I invite you to watch my wellness video “HeartMath Freeze Frame Technique for Decision Making”

Relearning how to breathe from the diaphragm is beneficial for everyone. Diaphragmatic breathing (also called “abdominal breathing” or “belly breathing”) encourages full oxygen exchange — that is, the beneficial trade of incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, this type of breathing slows the heartbeat and can lower or stabilize blood pressure. Taking a few minutes out of each day to practice observing the breath is worthwhile. You can increase mindfulness, enhance calm feelings, improve emotional stability and strengthen your ability to focus your attention.

I am a certified Breathwork Facilitator. Connect With Me to know more on the amazing power of breathwork and learn some breathwork techniques than can help you better manage yourself.

References:

https://shirleyeichenbergerarcher.com/happiness-and-mindfulness/why-does-breath-awareness-matter