Without breath, we are literally nothing. For as simple and mundane as breathing seems, it is truly a marvel that each and every one of us holds in our breast. It is our superpower. Not all of us breathe with the same ease, not all of us can breathe without support. But all of us do breathe. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here.

I realize you may read the above statement and roll your eyes. I realize I often—continuously—make a fuss over breath. But breath is beautiful.

Have you ever noticed how your breath changes depending on your mood?

When you’re scared?

When you’re angry?

When you’re happy?

When you’re excited?

When you’re tired?

When you’re perfectly content?

I’d love to give you the homework of paying attention to it and report back to me when you’ve done it.

But even still, I can pretty much 100% assure you that your breath will be shorter, quicker and more chesty when you’re scared or angry than when you’re happy or content.

Our breath changes because our brain sends our body signals depending on the situation that arrises as to how we need to respond. If something is making us anxious, our brain instinctively goes, TIME TO GET OUT OF HERE!

This is an important response to have at certain times, in certain situations; however, it’s not something we want to happen all the time.

Unfortunately for us, because of the lifestyle that most of us live, it’s common that our flight and fight response is triggered. And these days, with the pandemic, even more so.

AND with the added holiday excitement, it can be even harder to return to a neutral setting.

So, while yes our autonomic response affects our breath, being the sentient and intelligent beings we are, we have the ability to take the command seat by changing the way we breathe.

Staying Present in the Presence of Presents

This second week is focus on using your breath to support you.

Use Breath to Stay Tuned in

1️⃣ Our first port of call, where in the body are we breathing? See if it’s possible to breathe lower, gently breathing into the abdomen, then filling out the ribcage 360° degrees from the bottom up, allowing the diaphragms and lungs to expand fully.

2️⃣ Our second port of call, can we pace our breath? Try counting the inhales and exhales. If you’re really tense, start at a smaller count and work your way up. Maybe start with a count of 2 or 3. Perhaps work your way up to 4 or 6. And try counting your exhales. Perhaps at first only matching the inhale, and then little by little extending the exhale.

You don’t have to constantly count, but it helps to keep us present and in the moment. It helps us tune out what’s causing us to feel overwhelmed and tune in to ourselves.

3️⃣ Our third port of call, can we hold the breath for a little? After you notice your breathing is starting to become longer and easier, see if you can add a little hold in between the breath in and out. Don’t hold so long that you feel like you need to gasp for breath, just long enough that you feel it bubbling up in your throat.

How do you use your breath to stay tuned in?

I’ll leave you with a quote to contemplate from Johnny Lung,

“The ability to breathe is a gift. Wake up grateful each day for that gift.”

P.S. If you want a little more guidance on using your breath to support you this holiday season, I'd love for you to join me in the yoga for Winter 2-part series that starts today Dec 15th, 2021. This week and next week are the live sessions filled with yogic techniques for warming, tuning in and balancing. You’ll also receive weekly journaling prompts and access to the replays for a month!

Join me in a Winter Connection series