Just Breathe...... Through the Holidays

​The Holidays can add extra 'charge' ...stress, high emotions, pressure etc.  You've experienced deep breathing with my guidance in our yoga sessions. I'm referring to breathing from your diaphragm (the large muscle right below your lungs). 

When you take a truly deep breath, you are expanding your lungs, pressing down the diaphragm, and causing your abdomen to expand as your lungs fill with air. This is not only wonderful for reducing tension, but research has shown that it may also help with diseases that inhibit breathing, like emphysema.

Diaphragmatic breathing rapidly and effectively calms you down and is an immediate stress buster. For Holiday season, it's good to get in the habit of breathing this way, since it will help you take in lots of oxygen during physical activities, hopefully preventing dizziness and nauseousness.

Here's some tips on continuing to practice while on your own:

• Start by lying down and placing your hands on your stomach.
• Expel all your air, exhaling completely, and on the inhale slowly raise your hands with your breath. Inhale for five nice, long counts.
• Exhale the same way, counting down slowly from five until your hands go down.
• Eventually, as you practice you can try it sitting, then standing and in your asana practice.
• If you find this to be difficult, make it a daily practice to improve your health, alter your internal ph from acid to alkaline, feel relaxed, refreshed and at peace.

Namaste to All xo  Deb

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