Mindful Breathing Techniques
If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath - Amit Ray
The focus for October will be Mindful Breathing Techniques – appropriate as we head into Autumn and start spending more time inside ourselves. The cooler temperatures and visible changing of the season triggers a natural impulse in us all to prepare and gather for the coming winter.
2020 has not been without its challenges, yet many of us were gifted a time of slowing down and focusing more on ourselves and our wellbeing. For me, Autumn feels like a “new year”, full of magical changes and new opportunities. Our children begin a new school year, Fall activities begin and television programs return for a new season (at least in a regular year).
As we head back into the routines of school, work and activities, I want to offer you a series on Mindful Breathing Techniques. My hope is that you remember to take time to slow down, relax, breathe and sit in all-important silence throughout the month of October.
What are Mindful Breathing Techniques?
Mindfulness is the practice of bringing awareness or attention to something, in this case our breathing. We breathe automatically, without having to remind our lungs to inhale and exhale, we just do it. Often, we take notice of our breathing when it is being disrupted or deprived by stress, anxiety, emotions or other negative factors around us.
By bringing awareness to our breathing, we are able to:
- Reduce stress
- Increase our focus
- Do an audit on ourselves with slower breaths
- Regulate our emotions and nervous system
- Anchor ourselves in the present moment - to the here and now
Mindful Breathing Techniques - the series
Over the course of the 4 videos, I teach your different mindful breathing techniques including Alternate Nostril Breathing, Ujjayi Breath and Skull Shining Breath. I have also included a mindful breathing exercise that I teach in all of my yoga classes.