We’ve all been in situations where someone told us…
“Stop and take a deep breath.”
Most of the time, when someone says this, it doesn’t help.
But there’s a way to make a “deep breath” more calming.
It’s a very simple technique.
Sit with your back straight, eyes forward, hands on knees.
Now close your hands into a fist.
But instead of keeping your thumbs outside the fists, tuck them inside.
Put an equal amount of moderate pressure on both thumbs.
Now breathe in slowly through the nose until your lungs fill.
Then release the air slowly through your rounded lips.
You’ll hear a light “whoosh” or whistle as you release.
Continue breathing in and out like so while maintaining thumb pressure.
This yogic hand posture (called a mudra) results in much deeper breathing.
Combined with the long exhale, it relaxes the vagus nerve, the body’s longest.
This simple practice helps you send signals of safety and security to your body.
If you practice it regularly, it will help you breathe more deeply in all situations.
I’ve taught it to many of my coaching clients to help them make better decisions.
Decisions made from fear or anger (in a “fight-or-flight” state) rarely pan out well.
When you feel fear, your breath is one of the first things affected.
You feel tight and constrained, and your thinking follows suit.
Use this “Breath of Ease” technique whenever you need to clear your mind.
No matter what’s happening, you deserve to breathe easy!