Breathing for Stress Relief
Breathing for Stress Relief
It happens. We lose it. We don’t want to, but we do. Our plate is full, the minutes are ticking and everyone known to man wants our attention, advice, or something must be done “right now.”
In my office, there is also quite frequently one or two little people not patiently waiting for you to turn on Netflix or get applesauce or find a lego. Balancing home life, children and work is one of the most rewarding AND frustrating challenges I have ever encountered.
Fight or flight kicks in when we are overwhelmed, so everyone around us suffers.
This is the point at which someone will “die.” OK not really, but it might sound like it. I have been known to just walk out of the door into the yard to have a conference with myself and nature. Resetting my vibration, if you will. Don’t wait until meltdown is in full swing to exercise a little breathing.
Controlled breathing not only keeps our mind and body functioning at it’s best but it also helps our blood pressure, stress control and mood. (Oh you mean the snappy little attitude I have right now? My lack of understanding and patience is not appealing?) Yeah you, that’s right, take a deep breath or 40 of them. Slow down.
Yoga and Breathing
“In yoga, the breath is known as a universal energy that can be used to find a balance between the body-mind, the conscious-unconscious, and the sympathetic-parasympathetic nervous system. Unlike other bodily functions, the breath is easily used to communicate between these systems, which gives us an excellent tool to help facilitate positive change. It is the only bodily function that we do both voluntarily and involuntarily. We can consciously use breathing to influence the involuntary (sympathetic nervous system) that regulates blood pressure, heart rate, circulation, digestion and many other bodily functions. Breathing exercises can act as a bridge into those functions of the body of which we generally do not have conscious control.” {www.amsa.org}
We cannot always control the stress that is around us. Stress will always be there, but the good news is so will your breath.
Inhale…exhale…
Laura
