“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”
– Aristotle –
December. Christmas. Shopping. Family. Peace. Love. Forgiveness. What does this time of year conjure up for you? What are your memories, your traditions, the precious moments that you keep close to your heart? As you reflect on your past year, what does your heart tell you?
This is the perfect moment for stillness, for reflection, and for grace. Grace for yourself, for your family, and for others. Compassion for those less fortunate, and a gentle loving attitude toward all. Keep a loving heart and an open mind. Breathe through the difficult moments and remember time has a way of softening memories and re-framing things.
Remember to honor yourself with some quiet time. Be as kind to yourself as you are to your family, loved ones, and friends. Be gentle with yourself this season as you remember your to-do list and your workload. Take a moment to glide into kindness and softness toward everyone including yourself.
We are taking pre-orders on “There’s Always A Way”, my simple story about healing. For more information and to pre-order go to: http://pszr.co/CIFrL
6 Relaxation Breathing Tips
Courtesy of Yoga Journal by Claudia Cummins
1. Move the Belly With the Breath When we are at ease, the diaphragm is the primary engine of the breath. As we inhale, this dome-like muscle descends toward the abdomen, displacing the abdominal muscles and gently swelling the belly. As we exhale, the diaphragm releases back toward the heart, enabling the belly to release toward the spine.
2. Keep the Upper Body Quiet During high-stress times, it’s common to heave the upper chest and grip the muscles in the shoulders and throat. When we’re t rest, the muscles of the upper chest remain soft and relaxed as we breathe, and the real work occurs in the lower rib cage. To promote this type of breathing pattern, consciously relax the jaw, throat, neck, and shoulders, and envision the breath sweeping into the deepest parts of the lungs as you breathe in and out.
3. Breath Easy Although some breaths may be deeper or faster than others, when we’re relaxed, the alternating rhythm of the inhalations and exhalations feel like a lullaby – smooth, soft, and uninterrupted by jerks and jags. Consciously relaxing into this wavelike, oceanic quality of the breath deepens our sense of peace and relaxation.
4. Lengthen the Exhalation When we feel stressed, our exhalations tend to grow short and choppy. When we’re relaxed, though, the exhalations extend so completely that they are often longer than the inhalations. Some teachers even instruct that if we’re deeply relaxed, each exhalation will be twice as long as the inhalation. To facilitate this, try gently extending each exhalation by one or two seconds.
5. Pause After Each Exhalation In our most relaxed state, the end of each exhalation is punctuated by a short pause. Lingering in this sweet spot can be deeply satisfying and can evoke feelings of profound quiet and stillness.
6. Let the Whole Body Breathe When we are at ease, the whole body participates in the breathing process. Imagine a sleeping baby: When he breathes in and out, the belly swells and releases, the hips rock to and fro, the shoulders bob, and the spine gently undulates. This offers a mini-massage for the muscles and organs of the whole body and turns each breath into a soothing melody that further calms and quiets every cell within.
Book Launch
I have written a book about my personal healing journey and it launches soon! Find out more on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AStillLife.net/
Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year!
