Your Daily Brush: Remember to Practice Making Your Out Breath Longer than Your In-Breath
Tap into your body's calming mechanism that is built into your out-breath.
Dear Friends,
The more you practice something, the better you get at it. Whether we are talking about playing the piano, or hitting a golf ball, or learning to sing a song, practice is a critical element on the path to mastering a skill.
And this also applies to the art of breathing in such a way that it becomes a part of your mental hygiene routine. The more you practice intentional breathing such that your out-breath is longer than your in-breath, the better you will get at bringing yourself into a state of calm, especially when confronted with stressful situations.
Rx: As we head toward the end of the week, I invite you to note a couple of two-minute appointments in your calendar. Use those times to practice breathing with long out-breaths.
As with brushing your teeth - you can brush your mind with slow breathing - as part of ongoing health promotion and also as needed in high-demand or high-stress situations.
Below is an earlier article, with further details about the power of the long out-breath.
To your health!
Today’s reminder: pause and take a few deep breaths—with long, slow exhalations. This simple act helps regulate your nervous system, calm your mind, and reset your emotional state. The more you practice, the better you get. Think of each breath as a mini-massage for your brain and body. Especially in stressful moments, these breaths can bring clarity, steadiness, and ease. Try five right now. Inhale gently… and exhale slowly. Brushing your mind begins with the breath. Make it part of your daily routine.
Your breath is your constant companion.
But did you know it is also your faithful helper, always at the ready—to help you feel less overloaded or overwhelmed?
One of the most powerful things you can do to brush your mind is to become aware of your breathing and actively manage it.
More specifically, I am talking about your ability to take a deep breath, and slowly breathe out. The key is to breathe out longer than you breathe in.
Each time you breathe in, your body revs up. When you breathe out, your body enters into a state of calm. So when you prolong your out-breath, you are connecting with the calm that is always inside of you.
Rx: When you are in a hurry or under any other kind of stress, even one long out-breath can give you a moment of relief. Think of it like a punctuation mark.
The next time your day feels like an endless run-on sentence, remember to use your inborn emotional punctuation marks. Use them often and use them freely!
To your health!
