Fitness Friday: Breathe

I LOVE BREATHING!!!

Saying "take a breath" is so cliché at this point but if you actually do it correctly, it is beyond powerful. However, we might be doing it wrong or telling our kids to do it without care.

As a therapist, I would tell individuals of all ages three major benefits of #breathing.

1. Your focus shifts.  Maybe you can't sleep because you are thinking about all the garbage that today threw at you...or you are thinking about your extensive to-do list for tomorrow. Maybe your kids are whining. Maybe someone said something awful and you are furious. If you are focused on counting breaths, those things become smaller.

2. Nobody knows you're doing it.  Or everybody knows...because everybody breathes. My point is, you are just turning an involuntary action into a voluntary, intentional one and an outside observer won't be able to know the difference. You can be sitting in a conference room listening to an arrogant, know-it-all speak from his butthole, and decide to take some time to breathe with intention and no.body.knows.  This self care, coping skill strategy doesn't have to be some intricate yoga pose, or meditative "OMMMM" or prayer. You can do it with a resting bitch face or with a cheesy grin.

3. Your physical response shifts. Breathing in, gives oxygen to your brain and body - giving you energy. When you breathe out, you are releasing toxins and getting a sense of relaxation. Different variations of breathing can help with how you want to feel (sleepy/energized)

I like to start with basics.  So the first #exercise will just be #bellybreathing.        

BREATHE IN.  Breathe in through the nose.         

BREATHE OUT.  Breathe out through the mouth.        

 BREATHE IN. Imagine air entering your body. It should "fill up" your nose, your lungs, and then your belly.

🚫If you breathe in while sucking everything in, you are only allowing the breath to get so far in; creating more harm than good.🚫         

 BREATHE OUT. Breath should leave your belly, then your lungs, and then mouth.        

Put your hand on your stomach.

Breathe in through your nose. ( Count 1)

Breathe in further and let it enter your chest (Count 2).

And then further into your belly. Your hand should push out as your belly fills with air. (Count 3).       

Now breath out through your mouth. Slowly. (Count 1) Your belly should deflate.

Your chest should deflate. (Count 2) 

And all the air should empty out of your mouth. (Count 3)     

Now notice.  You might feel light headed. But your body might feel less rigid, less tense, more relaxed. That is the goal.