Breathe Through the Holiday Blues

[Guest guest]

I thought this would be great to share. Enjoy.

 

The holiday season is here, and many people experience big mood

swings, and even depression, during this season. It is therefore

especially important to stay in touch with your breathing to see

what is happening. If you find yourself getting depressed you can be

sure that your breathing will be shallow and lifeless, with little

movement taking place in the various breathing spaces. If you find

yourself in this kind of state, here's a simple practice from Dennis

Lewis that you can try.

 

The Stretching Breath

 

In either a sitting or standing position, take an impression of how

you are breathing. Just sense your breathing for a minute or two.

Then put a smile on your face (whether you feel like smiling or not)

and start stretching. Stretch slowly and comfortably in as many ways

as you can, using your attention to direct your breath through your

smile into whatever areas you are stretching. Do not hold your

breath at any point during this practice! Just let your breathing be

shaped and energized by the smile and the movements of your

stretching. Be sure to stretch evenly in all directions--up, down,

to the sides, through various angles, and so on. Work in this way

for at least five minutes; then check your breathing again. How do

you feel now? You can try this simple, safe practice as many times

as you like during the day. Done on a regular basis, " The Stretching

Breath " will help revitalize your breath and your mood.

 

Copyright 2002 by Dennis Lewis. May not be reprinted for any

commercial purpose.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Misty.

 

I can recall teaching my patients breathing techniques and having people

attending my many lectures have an experiential exercise to try to convince

them that something simple could change how they feel. It was one of the

things that convinced my " colleagues " that I had lost my mind. I have one

that takes less than a minute and stretches only the intercostal and

accessory muscles of respiration to the max. The individual would then

notice, automatically, deeper breathing all the rest of that day with only

that one minute exercise.

 

Namaste`

 

Walt

 

-

<mistytrepke

 

Saturday, December 07, 2002 5:53 PM

Breathe Through the Holiday Blues

 

 

> I thought this would be great to share. Enjoy.

>

> The holiday season is here, and many people experience big mood

> swings, and even depression, during this season. It is therefore

> especially important to stay in touch with your breathing to see

> what is happening. If you find yourself getting depressed you can be

> sure that your breathing will be shallow and lifeless, with little

> movement taking place in the various breathing spaces. If you find

> yourself in this kind of state, here's a simple practice from Dennis

> Lewis that you can try.

>

> The Stretching Breath

>

> In either a sitting or standing position, take an impression of how

> you are breathing. Just sense your breathing for a minute or two.

> Then put a smile on your face (whether you feel like smiling or not)

> and start stretching. Stretch slowly and comfortably in as many ways

> as you can, using your attention to direct your breath through your

> smile into whatever areas you are stretching. Do not hold your

> breath at any point during this practice! Just let your breathing be

> shaped and energized by the smile and the movements of your

> stretching. Be sure to stretch evenly in all directions--up, down,

> to the sides, through various angles, and so on. Work in this way

> for at least five minutes; then check your breathing again. How do

> you feel now? You can try this simple, safe practice as many times

> as you like during the day. Done on a regular basis, " The Stretching

> Breath " will help revitalize your breath and your mood.

>

> Copyright 2002 by Dennis Lewis. May not be reprinted for any

> commercial purpose.

>

>

>

>