Illustration by Vivienne Flesher
When you are anxious, worried, stressed, in pain, experiencing sadness, or any array of states arising in a non present mind. Your own body has organic systems that can be activated to change that. Your lungs do not just take in oxygen, that oxygen feeds every cell in your body. This means deep breathing can affect every organ, feeling and thought pattern.
To begin just breathe in deeply, through your nose. Breathe in, like you would take in a huge hit of the finest flower. Hold it in, absorb it, sit with it, then push it back out. Release fully. The key is in the release.
When you breathe in, allow your abdomen and chest to expand, engaging the diaphragm. Don't suck in your stomach, think of a Buddha belly and let it all hang out. Hold it, savor the breathe, then release again through your mouth.
Do you feel that? That is your life pulse. That is oxygen. That is the blood moving through a body that is alive. That is the flow state. Continually coming back to the moment you are experiencing - right now.
Repeat this 4 or 5 times, then breathe naturally. Do you feel the difference? (Tutorial video below)
This activates multiple self-healing mechanisms: it induces a relaxation response, interrupts pain cycle feedback loops, improves circulation and digestion, decreases blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and perhaps the most important thing - it helps disrupt thought patterns. It can turn down the dial of anxiety over the future and replays of the past, and turn up the color and sound of the actual beauty and peace available in the moment you are in. It can literally dial down stress which causes so many health issues. This is also the doorstep of a meditative state. It brings you into greater awareness of connection and present experience.
You can do this breathing technique anywhere. Anytime. With so much unrest and uncertainty. Peace can act like wound care. Peace is a state of being you can choose in any moment. 💗
For more on self-tools, healing work, and creating a peaceful and happy existence check out The Self Beyond on Amazon. Link Here
To begin just breathe in deeply, through your nose. Breathe in, like you would take in a huge hit of the finest flower. Hold it in, absorb it, sit with it, then push it back out. Release fully. The key is in the release.
When you breathe in, allow your abdomen and chest to expand, engaging the diaphragm. Don't suck in your stomach, think of a Buddha belly and let it all hang out. Hold it, savor the breathe, then release again through your mouth.
Do you feel that? That is your life pulse. That is oxygen. That is the blood moving through a body that is alive. That is the flow state. Continually coming back to the moment you are experiencing - right now.
Repeat this 4 or 5 times, then breathe naturally. Do you feel the difference? (Tutorial video below)
This activates multiple self-healing mechanisms: it induces a relaxation response, interrupts pain cycle feedback loops, improves circulation and digestion, decreases blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and perhaps the most important thing - it helps disrupt thought patterns. It can turn down the dial of anxiety over the future and replays of the past, and turn up the color and sound of the actual beauty and peace available in the moment you are in. It can literally dial down stress which causes so many health issues. This is also the doorstep of a meditative state. It brings you into greater awareness of connection and present experience.
You can do this breathing technique anywhere. Anytime. With so much unrest and uncertainty. Peace can act like wound care. Peace is a state of being you can choose in any moment. 💗
For more on self-tools, healing work, and creating a peaceful and happy existence check out The Self Beyond on Amazon. Link Here