#7: Breathe Your Way to Calm

 Self-care challenge from the website www.calmmoment.com/

One of the easiest ways to tap into positivity is working with the breath – it takes no extra time because you are doing it anyway and how you breathe has a tangible impact on how you feel. The mantra is ‘breathe better, feel better’. Smooth relaxed breathing helps calm the nervous system and can be a powerful anchor in keeping your mind focused on the present, a welcome distraction from negative thoughts. 

Nothing elaborate is required, just take a moment to really notice how it feels to be breathing. Allow the breath to be spacious, moving into your tummy, your sides, your lower back, upper back, chest and collarbones. The movement isn’t just contained in the lungs! Feel your whole torso expand on your in breath and effortlessly retract back to your centre on the out breath. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, your breath is your constant companion, check in and let your breath lift your spirits.

An easy way to begin is to breathe in for the count of 4, hold for the count of 5, and breathe out for 6 counts. It is the out breath that is the calming breath! It will not take long...even a minute...to begin to feel the difference in your body. Try it!