Breath work 4 Techniques to build upon.

We’ll learn why it’s the most fundamental part of wellness. Learn how to pay attention to the breathe, increase oxygen in your body and use breath work to go into deeper meditative state, all of which support energy, vitality, mental health and healing. 

Do you pay attention to how you breathe on a day to day basis? Is it tight? Is it restricted? Is it sharp? Notice where you are breathing, from the top of your chest? Or from the belly and diaphragm?

The point is to start breathing more fully throughout every moment of your life, but for now we are going to retrain the mind and the muscles after life has taught us to hold our breath.

CONNECT

Breathe in a circle- meaning, no sharp inhale or exhale, soften the transition between the in breath and out breath. Pay attention to how you are breathing and starting to slow down and ease muscles from constricting or holding. Try counting to 10 to stay focused on breathing rather than on thoughts. 

EXPAND

Stretch the diaphragm by breathing in for as long as you can while keeping the breath slow and steady. At the top of the inhale pull even more air into your lungs 2-3 times and focus on exhaling slowly and evenly. This trains the muscles to be able to open and capture more oxygen with each breath.

RESTORE

Practice the first breath starting to count in for as many as you can and match the exhale to be the same length of time while keeping the rhythm soft and easy, smooth and slow. Start where it is easy and you can keep stretching to lengthen the time for in and out breath. This is a standard meditative breath to practice on a daily basis even if it is only for a few breaths at a time. 

HEAL

This breath takes practice but can help you enter deeper meditative, visionary states where you can begin to connect on a more profound level. Inhale while counting as long as you can, Hold the breath at the top for the same amount of time while keeping your muscles at ease. Exhale for the same amount. If you are gasping for breath, try less time and slowly stretch the muscles until you find it easy. The goal is to reach 8-20 seconds 

Collective Themes of Safety, Security and Rootedness

Noticing a consistent theme the work I do. Recently, many people seem to be working through issues of safety and security. Our roots, our health, our home base, feeling belonging, and our feeling of being ourselves authentically without being attacked or dismissed. Fears rise from a place where we don’t know if we safe to be real, or maybe we don’t know where our security will come from… 

Groundedness goes deeper than deep. Alex drew a picture a long time ago that was a tiny flower with roots that went down in complex patterns, deep into the ground. He said, “The most important part is invisible to our eyes.” 

Liam mentioned, “we should turn our angry into silly” The balance of the heavy stuff is the light stuff. I feel like my boys nailed it. Breathe- stay light, laugh about the ridiculousness, get out in the sun, don’t forget to play and remember that the most important deep work is usually invisible to the eye but the most important/the most foundational. 

Sometimes rage, financial worries and sleep issues come up with safety issues; sometimes it’s fear of the darkness itself. Remember:  Safety includes feeling like we are supported by something bigger, connecting the earth, appreciating our food and where it comes from, feeling financially sound and valued. Observe: beauty, what nourishes you and what’s happening with your physical sensations. It can help to dig into ancestry, get out in nature and remember to stay present in your skin. 

I feel like so much is happening under the surface. Globally and within each one of us.  Sending love and support to those finding that this message rings true.