In midst of a busy or stressful day, I have often found comfort and solace in my breath.
Often when we are preoccupied, rushing through our day and/or worried, we close our bodies. I feel that this is a natural coping mechanism for us humans, to close our heart chakra. What this does is that it spoils our posture; our backs are stressed, rounded, we develop a hunch, our shoulders droop and move inwards, and our lungs are constricted for open space within the ribcage. There are other changes in the body as well, and these changes differ from person to person.
All this change in our posture directly affects our breathing. We automatically begin to take shallow breaths. These breaths do not carry as much refreshing oxygen, as is required for our body, especially when it is working harder than usual. I feel all this adds to the stress and tiredness that we feel in difficult or harsh situations.
Connecting with my breath has always brought me respite immediately. I find a quiet corner to sit or I go out in an open area where I can sit alone and begin work with my breath.
I immediately straighten my spine, open out my shoulders and pull my chin up. I then close my eyes and take in a deep breath that fills up my abdomen and make it bulge. I hold the breath for a few seconds and then exhale. I exhale for longer than I inhale.
I also add visualisations of colours to energise and heal chakras as the situation may require. A simple technique for all can be to visualise inhaling pure whitish blue light and exhaling black/grey breath. As our system gets stabalised, we will find that the colour of our exhale turns to white or transparent. This is a good way to decide that we are now in a composed state of mind to tackle the tasks at hand. I sometimes, also like to receive messages or keywords to address the situation at hand. This is the first thought or word that comes to my mind immediately after I connect with my breath.
You can also connect to your breath otherwise, and not wait for the day to run you rather than you running the day. In fact being connected with the breath is a powerful tool to remain in the present and fulfill your tasks with grace and joy.
