Too Much, Too Fast

How are you doing? To say we are living in difficult times is both a truth and a gross understatement. Too much, too fast. So much that is beyond our control.

When things get tough, I have taught myself to return to the basics as my best defense against overwhelm, inertia, and other unhelpful stress responses: Breath, Rest, Nourishment, Movement, and Connection.

And I always start my self-care review with the breath: it’s always available to me, it’s free, and it’s so easy that it’s often forgotten or discounted.

Here are three of my favorite “better living through breath work” techniques. Don’t discount them because they are simple. Remember - in the energy realm, little is big and simple is powerful.

1. One Breath Reset: lose your eyes and take a moment to shake/settle/relax your body as best you can. Take a soft, slow, unforced, and long inhale through your nose. Pause for just a moment, and then allow for a soft, slow, unforced, and long exhale through slightly parted lips. Pause for a moment. Slowly open your eyes and return to regular breathing. Repeat often throughout your day.

2. Box Breathing: The rhythm of the exercise is Inhale for a 4 count  - Hold for a four count  - Exhale for a four count - Hold for a four count. Repeat four times. The symmetry is like the four sides of a box. Click here for a cool video we created to follow for Box Breathing.

3. 4-7-8 Breathing: This follows a different pattern: Inhale to a count of 4, hold for a count of 7, slowly exhale for a count of 8. Repeat 7 times. Click here for a more detailed explanation of 4-7-8.

Pick one technique and practice it for 5 days. See how you feel. If you feel better, great. If not, try a different technique for the next 5 days. Not every breath technique works for everyone, but there is at least one breath technique that will help you navigate turbulent times.

Getting by, one breath at a time,
Kirstin Lindquist