Conscious Breathing has a Powerful Impact on the Nervous System
We have a profound and powerful tool at our disposal to approach challenges with a greater sense of equanimity.
And it is quite literally under our nose.
It is the breath.
To breathe in. To breathe out. With conscious awareness.
It’s positively inspiring to watch the response when I guide people into a deep breathing technique known as Abdominal Breathing.
Whether they are busy professionals or stressed out teens, the response is always the same. Their faces soften. Their shoulders drop a few centimetres. You can see them physically relax and mentally become very present.
You can do this anywhere at any time during the day when you need to re-set, re-focus or transition from one thing to the next.
SIT TALL: Lengthen the spine. Relax your shoulders.
STEP 1: Take 2-3 slow breaths. Breathe into the centre of your CHEST.
STEP 2: Take 2-3 more breaths. Now breathe into your RIB CAGE.
STEP 3: Take 2-3 more breaths. Then breathe into your BELLY.
BRING IT TOGETHER: Now take another 2-3 breaths. Draw each breath progressively down into the CHEST > RIBS > ABDOMEN.
When you practice this regularly you will find that you start to engage the technique automatically in challenging situations.
It’s simple. It works. And it’s right under our noses.
Have a M.A.D. day!
Katherine Mair, M.A.D. Creator