Breathe

JUST BREATHE  is more than cheap advice; this simple, vital act is a panacea for the wound-up, stressed-out, and energy-depleted.

It is common to store stress and emotional baggage in the belly causing the abdomen to tense up and close itself off. This leads to quick, shallow chest breathing, which can trigger fatigue, anxiety, and a loss of carbon dioxide, constricting arteries and blood vessels. Breathe more fully with your belly and you'll ease mind and muscle tension as well as lower your blood pressure.

Start by paying attention to your breath--don't try to alter it, just assess it: Does it stop at your chest or fill your belly? Where do you feel constricted?

It is important to note that modern medicine has finally acknowledged what the yogis have known for thousands of years, that the breath is intimately connected to the autonomic nervous system and the mind. Even some hospitals and medical establishments are now willing to train people in breath regulation and diaphragmatic breathing.

Next, train yourself to belly breathe using the technique below. If you practice regularly, your breath will begin to spontaneously deepen, and you'll routinely recruit your belly. That's when you can begin to enjoy the calm and focused energy that's available to you with every single breath.

A)       As you breath in though your nose, expand your belly to drop your diaphram.

B)       As the lower lungs fill with breath, move the breath into the mid lung, then slowly into the collarbones. 

C)       Exhale through the nose and squeeze the belly in as you exhale, to eliminate all air from the lungs. 

D)       Continue breathing this way for 15 minutes, feeling belly begin to rise and fall with every breath: Your abdomen will expand             with each inhalation and contract with each exhalation.

Namaste
Link to diagram:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp-gCvW8PRY