I didn’t think that that after doing yoga, Pilates and meditation that I would still need reminders to breathe when faced with difficult situations but it still happens. When we get into the space where we are starting to panic because we have way to much to do or everyone and thing is triggering negative emotions, how we breathe is often the last thing we focus on because our subconscious mind takes care of it for us.

Those negative triggers and feeling like you are not in control are precisely when you need to focus and control your breathing. This can actually interrupt the spiral of your subconscious mind and kick it out of the driver seat, placing you back in control of your emotions and responses.

Practice this breathing daily, first thing in the morning and at night before you go to bed so that you set up your day and a good nights sleep. This practice allows you to remember when things are are starting swirl that you have a quick tool to help prevent it from getting to tropical storm status.

4 Part Breath

Posture: Stand or sit tall so that you inhale deeply allowing your entire body to expand with each breathe
Control your breath: Inhale for a count of 4. Pause and hold for a count of 4. Exhale for a count of 4. Pause and hold for a count of 4. Repeat 4 times.
Breathe with your whole body: Not only should whole stomach and lower abdomen expand in and out with your breathe your entire abdominal cavity should. Your back and sides and even top to bottom should expanded so you are breathing into your front/back, sides and bottom to top.
Focus: Let everything else go and ONLY focus on your breath.

Squared Breathing

- JAMIE -