Whew! After the holidays, we all need a breath of fresh air! And, why not do it correctly and with intention?
One way to relax and rejuvenate after, or even during, a hard day is to use Yogic breath to cleanse the body of toxins, get oxygen to all the cells of our body and simply calm down.
Yogic breath is an exercise used by Yogis as a part of meditation and relaxation. It can transmute and release fear and muscle contraction whenever you feel tense or nervous. It is a completely natural and normal way of breathing for an infant.
What are the effects?
When a person is stressed or fearful, it causes a person’s breathing to become shallow. Many times we even hold our breath as a reaction to stress or fear. This in turn causes the body to contract, tense up and block the flow of energy. Yogic breathing helps reduces the impact of stress and improves brain function. Used regularly it can help remove and dissipate the fear mechanism in your life.
There are three distinct areas of your body used in each yogic breath:
Abdominal area (lower lung and diaphragm) Chest cavity (upper lung) Nasal passages (nose and throat)
How to implement the yogic breath: Sit in a comfortable chair with your back straight and your feet on the floor. You may sit on the floor with legs crossed or out in front of you. We tend to get distracted by our surroundings because the mind wants to stay busy darting from one thought to another. Closing your eyes will help you relax and focus within.
Place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest.
Fill the abdomen and allow it to expand and push your hand outward as you breathe in.
After filling the abdomen, let the breath continue to rise into your chest cavity expanding the rib cage, pushing your hand outward and lifting your shoulders.
Then fill the throat and nose and all nasal passages with air. On the exhale, release the breath in reverse order: nasal, chest, then abdomen. This is one breath.
Repeat for five minutes or until you feel relaxed. If you feel like sighing, humming or groaning, allow it as a normal part of the releasing process.
Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS). She and her team of ghostwriters are ready to assist you with writing and editing for books, eBooks, Web text, business documents, resumes, bios, articles, and media releases. For more information about writing, networking, publishing, and book promotion, or to sign up for free email delivery of WITS newsletter, please visit http://www.writersinthesky.com New subscribers receive a free eBook Tips for Freelance Writing.
