Step One - part A - Breathing

Breathing………

Well we have to breath don’t we.

Well some of us do not actually breath all that much through out the day. Especially when we are working on our computers.

Some General Rules for breathing:

First start with proper breathing, inhale through the nose and exhale through the nose. Nice slow inhale and exhale. Allow the breath to flow naturally.

As you inhale through the nose feel the breath filling from the lower abdomen up to the lungs.

Many times we are only breathing from the top part of our lungs, this makes for shallow breathing and lack of flow which means, not enough oxygen supply to the cells.

If this is new for you, practice just this breathing.

If you like you can go further moving into a breathing technique called alternate nostril breathing other names for it are nadi shodhana.

Nadi Shodhana -- the sweet breath

Nadi shodhana, or the sweet breath, is a simple form of alternate nostril breathing suitable for anyone. It cleanses the left and right sides of the brain giving us calmness of mind and soothes anxiety and stress, and promotes clear thinking. You can use the anytime day or night. It is extremely helpful to do this before challenging situations, for example, like just before a big meeting.

How to do it

• Hold your right hand up and curl your index and middle fingers toward your palm. Place your thumb next to your right nostril and your ring finger and pinky by your left. Close the right nostril by pressing gently against it with your thumb, and inhale through the left nostril. The breath should be slow, steady and full.
• Now close the left nostril by pressing gently against it with your ring finger and pinky, and open your right nostril by relaxing your thumb and exhale fully with a slow and steady breath.
• Inhale through the right nostril, close it, and then exhale through the left nostril.

That's one complete round of Nadi Shodhana --

• Inhale through the left

· Exhale through the right

• Inhale through the right nostril

· Exhale through the left

Begin with 5-10 rounds and add more as you feel ready. Remember to keep your breathing slow, easy and full. When to do it:

Just about any time and any where.

Alternate nostril breathing helps control stress and anxiety. If you start to feel stressed out, 10 or so rounds will help calm you down. It also helps soothe anxiety caused by flying and other fearful or stressful situations.