Breathe better to live better!
Feeling better every day
We all sometimes come home from work tired, stressed and exhausted, without knowing how to find calm and serenity deep within us again. Difficult times in life can also put us in these states.
And yet, without our knowing it, life has given us surprising possibilities, so easy to put in place, to feel good within ourselves.
One technique I personally love and recommend is to sit on a cushion on the floor, or on a mat, with your pelvis at the edge of the cushion, or directly on the floor if you are supple.
Use soft lighting, no music, a candle if you like.
Then pay attention to your back, which should be very straight, as if you wanted to touch the ceiling with the crown of your head, while staying in a comfortable position.
Lift your head out of your shoulders, open your chest, feel noble and brave: you are alone, fear nothing.
Consciously relax everything around your spine, shoulders, arms, legs, belly, and observe your breathing.
At first, play with your body and discover its breathing possibilities. Breathe while becoming aware of the out breath; breathe out slowly, normally at first, then more and more deeply while slowing down your breathing rhythm.
You should not feel dizzy.
Notice your body's ability to breathe out deeply by contracting the belly, the abdominals and the anal and genital sphincters.
After breathing out well for about ten breaths, start playing with the in breath, while continuing the out breath exercises. Notice that you can swell the belly a great deal, and continue breathing in by opening the lower ribs and the whole rib cage, finishing by lengthening the neck and pushing the crown of the head upwards. Then breathe out in the reverse order: the shoulders drop, the ribs draw in, the belly contracts and finally the whole lower body.
In this « complete » breath you can make small pauses with full or empty lungs. Feel your breath resting in these moments, and enjoy the calm that appears to try to slow down inwardly even more.
Fullness strengthens your vitality and your feeling of existing; emptiness brings intelligence and fusion with the absolute.
Keeping your back straight allows energy to flow more freely and « naturally » from one centre to another.
The out breath is essential: when a metro train stops, however eager people are to get on, everyone on the platform waits for the passengers on the train to get off.
To fill better, you must first empty better.
Controlling your breathing will soon give you a feeling of well being and calm much of the agitation within you.
By practising this exercise for 10 to 15 minutes (or more if you can) a day, your life can change simply but surely for the better.
Let calm come into you, and notice a slowing down with each out breath.
When a little calm and serenity are there, do this exercise as an offering to something greater than yourself, someone who is suffering, a loved one, humanity or God, and find in it a deep joy in being part of a whole.
If you use this technique and it helps you feel better, feel free to contact me and share with me; I can send you other simple, free exercises.
Denis Billo
Qualified Hatha Yoga teacher
>> Well being
>> Breathe better to feel better and regain your well being.