I was reading an article this weekend, its headline, "The Nation Is Holding Its Breath." Yikes! My thought pattern went something like this...
Oh no that's not good!
The fight-or-flight (stress) response is activated.
The body will start to tense up soon.
The heart rate and blood pressure increase.
Stress hormone levels rise (cortisol is release).
Blood is pumped to the limbs (to prepare for fight or flight).
Blood moves away from the organs, limiting or shutting down function.
The above was simply reactions just at the top of the mind. There is a slew of physical, emotional, and physiological reactions of stress and anxiety. 🤯
No dah! people are holding their breath these days. I have found myself holding the breath plenty over the past year, haven't you? It's common especially during times of stress and anxiety. Who hasn't been stressed or felt anxious recently?
In our yoga practice breathing is an essential part! Pranayama, the practice of breath control (simply put), is one of the eight limbs of yoga focused on the breath. It can be used as a tool to bring the body back into balance and activate the relaxation response. Who doesn't need a little more relaxation these days?
I wanted to share a simple pranayama technique called Dirgha Pranayama. Also known as the Three-Part Breath. This is a simple technique to promote relaxation and a feeling of groundedness. You can do this A-N-Y-W-H-E-R-E! Heck, I have done this practice standing up waiting in line at the grocery store. Seriously, you can even do it on the couch! It takes less than 7-minutes and can sustain you throughout the day. Give it a try and tell me what you feel!
Breathe well. Take care.
Kristen
PS. If you are curious about meeting me online check out my 2021 series class schedule. All classes are being held via Zoom. Don't worry if taking a yoga class online is new to you, I walk you through it step by step.
PSS. If you are interested in connecting with me, for private online sessions (another silver lining) feel free to reach out.