Chapter 4 …..Breathe!

So, Chapter three has lead us up to being Mindful…..

‘What is this weirdness that people call ‘Breath work’? It’s actually a softer way to introduce people to meditation; and Meditation is a word that scares many people. The word often conjures up images of yogis sitting cross legged at the top of a mountain. It honestly doesn’t have to be like that. We are living in a modern world. We have busy lives. Stress and stress related illness are seen more and more, manifesting in different ways. We are all human. Knowing what to do to relieve these stresses is what matters.

Lets start here….

Take a moment. Sit or lie down. Be comfortable. Place a pillow under your knees if you are lying down. Keep your feet on the floor if seated. Take your shoes off. Feel the ground beneath your feet. You must take time to make yourself comfortable

Now close your eyes. Don’t ‘do’ anything. Just settle. Just BE.

Focus on your breathing. Don’t ‘do’ anything with it. Just watch it. Take a moment.

Watch your breath.

Then count. Count how long it takes you to breathe in…. Don’t try to change the length.

Just BE aware.

Count in…. count out.

After about six breaths, you will notice you naturally slow down.

Now extend the count by one second.

Everyone will breathe a different length of breath. Everyone is different.

Your natural breath pattern maybe a count of 7 or 8….it could be longer.

As you count and extend, you will be focusing. Focusing just on your breath. Nothing else.

That is meditating. Focusing on one thing.

Your body will become heavier. Your breathing will deepen. Start there.

If thoughts of ‘what shall I have for supper?’ pop into your mind, then watch the thought pass by. Try not to engage in the conversation of ‘Shall I pop to the shops? Where is my list? What time is it?’

Just allow the thought to pass by…. Like a cloud.

And refocus.

On your breath.

When you are ready, take a few deep breaths and have a stretch. Bring your awareness back to where you are.

Just five minutes a day can make all the difference. When you understand the concept you can do this on a train, at your desk, in the park…..then you can develop even further. But start here.

Start with the breath.

When you have understood this quite simple but powerful concept, you will find that taking five minutes in your day to do this simple exercise will really help your stress levels.

Practice *Breathe * Meditate *Simple

You have probably all heard the beautiful song by Simon and Garfunkel, The Sound of Silence?

Is there such a thing? Does Silence have a sound? Or is it a bit like the saying, ‘If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound?’ There is always sound, if you really listen. When you are peaceful, mindful and are just be-ing, there is always a sound. If you listen, even if you are in a sound proof room you will always be able to hear your breath. Your breath is sound. The sound of your body’

The most amazing focal point of all that is, is your breath.

Respect your breath.

You are the breath.

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