body image self esteem

A Breath of Fresh Air

We hear it all the time, take a breath, let it go.  Yet we continue to hold on, pausing as if we’re waiting for something to happen.  How many of us hold onto a low level of guarding?  Think about it, when you hear a noise late at night you stay very still, slowing your breathing and staying on alert.  Many of us take a basic survival tool, the ability to respond to our environment, and run that program every day, nearly every minute.  No wonder we’re tired!

Think about the times when your breath is strong and deep.  During a walk or run, yes we are stimulating our system and drawing in what we need.  We are releasing toxins as well.  What about when we are happy and laughing?  Deep breath!  There’s also the stimulation of attraction, going all the way from the thought of a passionate encounter or meeting our soul mate to the act of expressing that affection.  The heart is racing, and the lungs fill deeply.  It is not just a physical activity that encourages us to breath, it is also in our thoughts and primal reaction system.  

Here’s an exercise for breath consciousness expansion: 

1. Be aware of your posture.  Seriously, sitting in a slouch does restrict the expansion of your lungs.  How are your shoulders, are they pulled forward?  Stand up, if you are able, and stand tall.
2. Notice your breath – without giving it a rating, just notice.
3. Let that next breath go deeper, and exhale with the intent to release that breath, and anything contained within it.  Notice any tightness, any hesitation in that breath. I get that jagged inhale sometimes, its a good sign of another release!
4. Think of something that brings out your life passion, your enthusiasm, your joy.  Keep your thoughts along that topic.  Let that feeling fill you, top to bottom, radiating through every cell, and expanding out around you like a bubble. 
5. Notice your breath again: does it feel more joyful?  Lighter?  Deeper? 

Our thoughts do influence the physical body, and our thoughts can also lead us in any new direction we want to take.  Our breath is our primary source of oxygen, and one of our key release points as well.  When you breath you are providing a life sustaining substance to the body.  Use that passageway, and bring new thoughts to every cell of your body with every breath you take.  There is a Buddhist practice of repeating the phrase: “breathing in I calm myself, breathing out I smile”.  When you practice this, rerunning this phrase over and over, you are adding a new script to your physical response system.  You are telling your body that with every breath you take in you are calming yourself, and with every exhale you smile.  Wow!  Wow again!  Open your mind to a joyful thought, open your heart to receive it, and open your lungs to bring that newfound thought into every cell of your body, and every corner of your life.

Estee Taschereau is a Spiritual Counselor, providing individual sessions in Life Optimization and Energy Release through Awareness.  Estee’s event calendar can be seen at RadiantJourney, and individual sessions can be provided in person or by phone.