Recently, I received an
e-mail from a friend asking me for some tips for dealing with
Holiday stress. I promptly sent back some suggestions, but forgot
perhaps the most important one (that figures, a Leo can build a
skyscraper, and forget the elevator!).
What I neglected to remind her was to BREATHE! Too simplistic?
Well, let me explain.
We are a society of shallow breathers. It goes along with our
attitudes of "not enough hours in the day", "I'll be happy when
I...," "I'll just do one more thing," and demands put upon us by
others to have this or that done yesterday. We run literally
breathlessly from one thing to the next. Enough is never enough.
We take ourselves and our responsibilities too seriously, judging
ourselves too harshly and blocking our own receiving. To breathe
deeply is to say "thank you" to the Universe, to Life, to God for
providing the breath of Life that sustains us. It is always there
for us, all we have to do is accept it. And remember to Give
Thanks.
Biologically, the operative word/concept here is ALKALIZING. R
& R is alkalizing--it recharges our internal batteries, while
STRESS is acidifying and depletes our internal reserves. Oxygen
(O2) is alkalizing. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is acidifying. Co2 in our
bloodstream forms carbonic acid. Deep breathing allows greater
oxygen absorption and greater carbon dioxide release. It relaxes
the body and the psyche, transmitting the message to every cell
that "All is Well."
Here's an exercise to get you to breathe more mindfully: Count
to 4 as you inhale through your mouth, hold the breath for a count
of 7, then exhale through your nose of a count of 8. As your lungs
expand, increase the counts by multiples, for instance 8:14:16.
Practice this breathing by doing 5 to 10 cycles before getting out
of bed in the morning, while waiting in line, while idling in
traffic, before taking a big test or going into an important
meeting, whenever you're nervous or upset, or when you feel a
tightness in your chest and realize that you've been breathing
shallowly. Repeat it again before going to sleep at the end of
your day. This practice is strengthening for those with chronic
respiratory problems, also.
Funny thing, all of our physical/chemical processes that affect
immunity, digestion, hormonal balance, mind and emotion are
dependent upon our blood being slightly alkaline (about the
salinity of sea water). So, start the year off by BREATHING DEEPLY
-- it's a practice in self-mastery and a tremendous tool for
improving health and well being.
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