Just Breathe

This week in my 10 week course, Essential Self-Care, we are talking about how to take advantage of the natural calm and clarity of the early morning hours. Basically, if you start your day anxiously running around, then you will likely spend the rest of your day feeling rushed and anxious. By spending even just a few minutes of your morning in a calm relaxed way, you will be much more prepared to tackle the rest of your day with serenity!

So with that in mind, I thought I would share with you my favorite morning breathing practice for developing greater focus, calm, and clarity. Actually, this breathing practice is great for any time of day. It can help you wind down in the evening or manage your stress during the day. But let's focus on why it is so lovely in the morning. First, it doesn't have to take very long. You can start with just 1 minute and you will see results. Second, breathing deeply in the mornings gets your prana (life force or energy) moving right off the bat and can help rid you of any lingering sleepiness, sluggishness, or fogginess. So with the goal of optimizing our mornings for tranquility,  focus, and optimal energy, make a point to breathe deeply soon after you wake up. This can mean doing the breathing practice below, going for a walk, or doing some sun salutations. You will likely notice that you feel more alive and clear throughout your day!

Even Breathing Practice for Optimal Energy
Sit in a comfortable upright position. Close your eyes and rest your hands on your lap or your thighs. Breathe deeply in and out through your nose for a few rounds of breath.  Begin to count the length of your inhales and exhales keeping them slow and even. Use a count of 4 to start such that the inhale and exhale are both 4 counts long.  The length of each breath should feel deep, slow, and comfortable. If you would like to begin to extend the length of the breath, do a few rounds to a count of 4 and then increase both the inhale and exhale to 5 and so on. Finish with a few rounds back at 4. Notice your state of mind. You can do this practice for as long as you like. I recommend setting a timer for 1-5 minutes or starting with 8-12 rounds of breath and then slowly extending the length of your breathing practice to as long as feels right for you.