If you want to feel more serene and focused, try breathing! For thousands of years, people have used the breath to be more mindful and relaxed. Breathing is easy to control because we do it all the time. Here are some ways to reduce stress and become more peaceful.
• Several times during the day, notice your breathing. This helps to remind you to breathe deeply and fully.
• Try counting your breaths. In some Kundalini yoga meditations, you count up silently as you inhale and down as you exhale.
• Change the rhythm of your breath. Pause for a count of a few seconds after inhaling and again after exhaling. This little rest helps calm shaky nerves and reduce anxiety.
Alison Finney is a certified hatha and kundalini yoga teacher in Ottawa. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance and the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association and is the founder of PranaShanti, a health and yoga resource. For more information, visit www.pranashanti.com.
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