Good morning,
Dear one.
Mornings are magical because they provide us with the opportunity to begin anew.
Our breath is also magical.
It is what keeps us alive without us even having to think about it.
Let's begin this exercise by sitting in a comfortable position.
Gently close your eyes.
Now I would like you to observe your breath for a few moments without any judgment.
Just spend the next few moments focusing on your own breathing.
There is no right or wrong way for you to breathe.
There is just the way that you are doing it.
Observe your breath with compassion.
Even though we are able to breathe without having to consciously think about it,
We are also able to consciously change the way in which we breathe.
Changing the tempo and quality of our breath has an effect on how we feel.
We can help our bodies to become more relaxed simply by slowing down the breath.
When you breathe slower,
You signal to your body that you are safe,
That all is well.
This helps your muscles and internal organs to become more relaxed and when your body feels more relaxed,
It is easier for your mind to relax too.
You can also energize your body with intentional breathing.
You simply have to breathe deeper.
Deep breaths help to send oxygen to all parts of your body as well as your brain to help you feel refreshed and ready for what the day brings.
An easy way for us to slow down and deepen our breath is by counting while we breathe.
We are all different in our capacity to breathe,
So please approach the next exercise with self-compassion.
If at any time you feel light headed or the counts feel too long for you,
Pause the exercise and continue to breathe at your own pace.
As you are sitting,
Carefully straighten your spine to ensure that your lungs have space to comfortably expand and contract.
If you like,
You can place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest so that you can feel how the breath moves through your body.
We will be inhaling deeply into the chest and belly for a count of 4,
Pausing for 2 and then exhaling for a count of 4.
Once we have exhaled completely,
We will pause for a moment before repeating the exercise.
We will do 3 rounds of this exercise.
Before we begin,
Let's breathe together once to synchronize our breathing.
Take a deep breath in and out.
Now inhale deeply for a count of 4.
1,
2,
3,
4.
Hold the breath.
1,
2 and exhale.
1,
2,
3,
4.
Pause for a moment.
Inhale for a count of 4.
1,
2,
3,
4.
Hold the breath.
1,
2 and exhale.
1,
2,
3,
4.
Pause for a moment.
One last inhale for a count of 4.
1,
2,
3,
4.
Hold the breath.
1,
2 and exhale.
1,
2,
3,
4.
And now you can gently return to breathing at your own pace,
Feeling calm and energized and ready for the day.
You can repeat this exercise throughout your day whenever you feel the need for slowing down and energizing your body and mind with an oxygen boost.
If you were comfortable with inhaling and exhaling for 4 counts and holding for 2,
You can practice extending your breath for longer in your own time.
Remember to always listen to your body and to only do what feels comfortable to you.
May the rest of your day be blessed and filled with the magic that you have created for yourself this morning.
