Breathe in, breathe out.
While humans breathe over 20,000 breaths per day on average, the majority go completely unnoticed. Breath is our source of life, the first and the last marking our life cycle and our anchor to the present moment.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Yogic pranayama is one of the eight limbs of yoga. Prana means life force and Yama means control as the practice is designed to root the participant into the present moment providing a break from mental chatter. Possible benefits range from better sleep, to less stress, improved cognitive function, lowered blood pressure and general sense of happiness.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Dhyana is another limb of yoga and translates to meditation. Meditation practices often rely on breath connection as an opportunity to free the mind from thinking for a bit. Both the regulation of breath and meditation are lifelong practices that become more comfortable over time.
Breathe in, breathe out.
The best way to start is to just begin. Here are some favorite easy beginner exercises:
Breathe in, breathe out:
Set a timer for 5 minutes. As you breathe in say “in” as you breathe out say “out”. Start again whenever you lose focus.
Box breathing: breath in for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4. Take around 10 rounds to begin. Fun fact- Navy Seals learn box breathing to stay calm and improve concentration in stressful situations!
Meg Dennis, Yoga and holistic healer
