Breathe Through Trauma

"Any trauma you can breathe through loses its grip on you. Here's why. Any animal freezes its breathing when a startle occurs. In nature...there is great survival value in freezing into stillness.

When a trauma occurs, the breath is first held and then becomes short and shallow. So releasing a trauma from the body and mind is partly a result of getting the breath flowing again while the person consiously processes the feelings from the events that froze the breath in the first place." From Consicous Breathing - Gay Hendricks

The trauma may be present or from long in the past, but if you can breathe slowly and deeply while thinking or speaking of it, your body will have great help in releasing it!

Breathing Through Times of Grief

I just found out that a childhood friend of mine died of cancer today. She was a mom and a wife, a smiling, cheerful soul, and I can't stop crying, such a chord is touched.

I thought about skipping the breath tip, what could I offer in such a state of emotion? And then of course, I realized, that this too is something I need to breathe in, and release.

Breathe in the pain and sadness, breathe out . Breathe in the love, breathe out. Breathe in the good memories, breathe out. Breathe in the regrets that come with knowing I will not know her any more, breathe out. Breathe in the wild range of colors of each day of life, breathe out.

Feel it all, and release. I am alive, and I am here now, breathing. And to honor my friend, I will be grateful for this moment, for my breath, for the future joys and pains.

I just found out that a childhood friend of mine died of cancer today. She was a mom and a wife, a smiling, cheerful soul, and I can't stop crying, such a chord is touched.

I thought about skipping the breath tip, what could I offer in such a state of emotion? And then of course, I realized, that this too is something I need to breathe in, and release.

Breathe in the pain and sadness, breathe out . Breathe in the love, breathe out. Breathe in the good memories, breathe out. Breathe in the regrets that come with knowing I will not know her any more, breathe out. Breathe in the wild range of colors of each day of life, breathe out.

Feel it all, and release. I am alive, and I am here now, breathing. And to honor my friend, I will be grateful for this moment, for my breath, for the future joys and pains.

Breathing When You Have a Cold

Breathing With a Cold
After dealing with a sore throat all weekend I experienced the importance of breathing while your respiratory system isn't at its best.

Take a minute to breathe several breaths slowly, evenly and quietly, through the nose or mouth. This creates a strong, healthy moment for the lungs and chest to experience in the midst of challenges when uneven, shallow breathing can be the norm.
This breathing feels very different than when all is normal and clear, it feels like lifting weights or focusing on balance while walking on a beam. It helps get things in the right rhythm, back on the right track.

To help the process, massage the chest just under the collarbone in little circular motions, then down along the sternum between the ribs, and up into the front of the neck (lightly here). This helps relax the muscles that help you breathe, as well as the whole body. And relaxation is good for breath, and health in general.

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Yesterday I was leaving my office with my heart very achy. I have been missing Otto so much, feeling the hurt so much the past week.  I told him as I gathered my things together and touched the little plate with the owl on it that I needed his help. 

I walked out the door to the parking lot and a deer was there, walking around between the creek and the cars.  A beautiful doe.  I've never seen one there before in the 3 years I've been working there.  It was such a nice hello, such a quick response to my question, when I didn't expect an answer. 

When our baby first died, we would hike and hike and hike in Annadel. Doing our best, one step at a time, comforted by the evening sun over the grasses and we would almost always see a stag, which is very unusual. We saw 16 of them in a month or two, never failing, every time we went out. And we would talk to him, our son, through these deer. We knew it was him, in some way, these mystical creatures. We would know where to go, sometimes we would find them, hear some little sound and follow it and find him, or he would find us, walking through brush and surprising us.

We don't hike as much now, not nearly. We are back in the busyness of life, and we don' t have time every day, we don't make the space, life has crowded back in. It's easier in some ways to be busy, but it can be numbing too, and that's uncomfortable. We cry at night, and it can be hard on each other after a long day to have the other so down, but we understand, it's s lower-level relentless heartache.  A loss that is always felt, but not so poignantly as before. In some ways it's hard to let go of that, to let it be foggy and not sharp.  This is how it goes, though. 

So my baby boy, my Otto, thanks for showing that you are right here, that even when we are down in the hurt of your death  and hurts that started long before that, you are clear. You are beyond. You are like a deer in the city, just beyond the trees by the creek, hidden but there and full of spirit.

Our yard is full of blooming roses and poppies and pansies, the color is cheerful, so helpful. Spring is beautiful.

I love you.

Breathe in Rhythm With Your Activity

Next time you take a walk around the block or a jaunt on the treadmill, dig a ditch or even sweep the floor, breathe in rhythm with your activity. Inhale for three steps, exhale for three steps. Inhale for two sweeps, exhale for two sweeps.

Breathing evenly and in rhythm brings your mind to what you're doing and gives the lungs a great chance to exercise. They love it! So as you're working in the garden or taking a hike, pay attention to rhythm of the breath and you'll have more energy to enjoy it.

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Breathe into the Back

Take a moment to relax and focus on your breath.

As you inhale, visualize your lungs expanding into the back as well as into the front of the chest. You can put your hands on the sides of your rib cage, thumbs in back and four fingers in front, to feel the expansion.

As you breathe, let yourself feel the support of the breath going into your upper back, holding you up, giving strength.

Let your belly, ribs and chest area remain soft and flexible, easily expanding to make room for the lungs. Remember that the more flexible we are for the breath, the easier it is to maintain good posture and flow of breath to the rest of the body.

Enjoy!

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