| You don’t need to fall into the stress mode of | | | | if they do not rest comfortably on the floor. Hands |
| life. You can use breath to relax, rather than stress, | | | | are on the tops of your legs. |
| your mind and body. Yoga helps you to relearn that | | | | 2. Close your eyes gently and let them rest behind |
| natural state that your body and mind want to be in | | | | closed lids. |
| relaxation. | | | | 3. Think about your ribs, at the front, back, and at |
| Deep breathing is both calming and energizing. The | | | | the sides of your body. Your lungs are behind those |
| energy you feel from a few minutes of careful | | | | ribs. |
| breathe is not nervous or hyper, but that calm, | | | | 4. Feel your lungs filling up, your ribs expanding out |
| steady energy we all need. Slow, steady, and quiet | | | | and up. Feel your lungs emptying, your ribs coming |
| breathing gives a message to your nervous system: | | | | back down and in. Don’t push the breath. |
| Be calm. | | | | 5. The first few times you do this, do it for 2 to 3 |
| Whole books have been written on yoga breathing. | | | | minutes, then do it for up to 5 to 10 minutes. At |
| Here is one 5-minute Breath Break. (Read through the | | | | first, set aside a time at least once a day to do this. |
| instructions several times before you try the | | | | When you learn how good it makes you feel, |
| practice.) | | | | you’ll want to do it at other times as well. |
| 1. Sit with your spine as straight as possible. Use a | | | | Just as one stressful situation goes into your next |
| chair if necessary but don’t slump into it. Feet | | | | challenge, relaxing for a few minutes every day |
| flat on the floor with knees directly over the center | | | | gradually carries over into the rest of your daily life |
| of your feet. Use a book or cushion under your feet | | | | and activities. |