Feel Breath

Autocorrect. It can sometimes provide some embarrassment when you send a text with an inappropriate "correction," or provide a belly laugh with an entertaining "correction. " But sometimes, it can shift a mistype into something better than what you intended to type.

A few weeks ago , a friend who was struggling a bit reached out. My first inclination is to encourage deep breaths to calm the nervous system and to ground. So I proceeded to type what I though read " Take some deep breaths." After I hit send, I looked at it and it autocorrected to "Feel Breath." Huh, that's a good one autocorrect! So it got me thinking....

If you have ever worked with me in any capacity, we have talked about breath, and how it is foundational to your healing, your overall health and can be a superpower! I have studied and practiced pranayama as well as modern breath work practices for years and I love to share the empowering practices to, well, anyone who is ready to listen and receive! So when I read the words "Feel Breath," I realized it encompasses what pranayama, mindful breath work is. To feel the breath in your body, to pause and be aware to how the breath is flowing, (or not flowing) gives you valuable information as well as resets your nervous system. Feeling your breath not only empowers you in your body, but it allows you to pause and connect to your presence. Connect to what is right in front of you. Ground into yourself into the moment. Perhaps to bring some clarity.

When we encounter a stressful situation, think about a potential stressful situation or remember a trauma from our past, it can manifest in the body in holding breath, or breathing really quick and shallow. When that happens, all systems in the body are affected, in a negative way. Generally, if you are not taking big breaths into your belly that you can feel, your nervous system transitions into fight, flight or freeze mode which can cause immediate anxiety, uneasy belly, blurred thoughts and vision, etc....I could go on and on. Feeling, noticing your breath during these times is incredibly powerful. This is why it is called a practice as we need to practice feeling our breath everyday, so we are ready to diffuse any stressors that come our way by pausing, taking 5 deep breaths into the low belly and feeling how the breath will shift you out of nervous system reaction and ground you in the moment.

Try it! Pause and feel your glorious breath. Your own life force. Your superpower.