Most of us are just ‘pretending’ to breathe. We have trained ourselves to do just enough to survive. But most of us aren’t breathing properly. We’re denying our bodies the oxygen-rich fuel they crave, which has implications for our health – physically, mentally and emotionally.
Fortunately all you need to do, to turn things around, is to take 10 deep breaths.
Here’s how:
{Obviously – please do this within your safe abilities. If breathing deeply is an issue for you, please get help from your chosen medical professional!}
3 Minute Belly-Breathing Meditation
- Have your back reasonably straight, your shoulders relaxed and your chin tucked in a little, to relax and lengthen your neck.
- Put your hands on your belly, just above your belly button. You want your fingertips of your middle fingers to be lightly touching, as your belly is pushed towards your back. Now is not the time to be worrying about an ironing-board-flat stomach!
- Then, as you breathe in (ideally through your nose), allow your belly to expand. Your fingertips will move apart.
- Breathe out (either through your nose or out through your mouth with an ‘ahh’ sound), and as your belly goes back towards your spine, your fingertips go back together.
- Continue this for at least ten breaths.
This is a wonderful practice because it brings the focus back to the breath, bringing the breath back to the lower abdomen, rather than the chest and shoulders – that’s where it hangs out when we’re stressed.
Belly breathing also gives the internal organs a gentle massage (they’re designed to get one, every time the diaphragm moves). It helps re-oxygenate the blood, can improve concentration and generally has a positive impact on health.
The benefits are enormous. Plus it’s fun and free!
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And if you’d like to dive in a bit deeper and discover how easy, fun and life-changing meditation can be, you might like to join in with the 28 Day Meditation Challenge. 🙂
Namaste,
