The thing about worrying is, thinking about it usually brings it on. So, we either avoid thinking about it, or we live in a constant state of worry, because we are forever thinking about it.

Worry can often be about a loss of control– of time, money, relationships, of your life for that matter. When we panic, and feel that lack of control, it’s best to go back to basics. Breath. It is the one thing that we CAN control. There’s a reason why lamaze exists, and why yoga is everywhere you turn. We’re all moving so fast we’re forgetting the most primal of functions.

Deep, belly breaths are the ones that help cleanse, but they’re also not the ones most of us are taking regularly. Generally, we tend to breathe from the chest, but those aren’t the types of breaths that calm us, especially when we’re experiencing worry or panic. If you put one hand on your chest, and one on your belly, breathe in through your nose, imagining an empty balloon in your belly. Picture that balloon filling up until it almost pops and you’ve reached the “top” of your breath. If you’re belly breathing, the hand on your chest should remain stationary, and the one on your belly should move outwards. At work I teach little kids by having them lay down, with a stuffed animal of their choice on their bellies. I teach them to give the stuffed animal a “ride” up and down through their breath. I won’t tell anyone if you practice this way, too. 🙂

It sounds corny, but it really works. Though it takes a lot of practice, it’s worth every second of effort. With practice, those cleansing breaths will naturally begin to replace your more shallow ones, and you’ll start to feel more calm each day.

I needed some serious belly breaths earlier today. I was at the checkout at trader joes, with two people in front of me. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I felt this intense wave of anxiety, almost like I was going to pass out. My legs got weak and I felt cold and clammy. This has happened a handful of times to me before, usually in crowded, bright places where I’ve been looking around a lot. Today, I seriously thought about leaving my cart at the register and just going home. No, I thought. This has happened before. I am not going to pass out. I know what to do. So, I took my own advice- I practiced the belly breaths I preach in my practice. And guess what? It worked. I calmed down enough to finish my purchase, and drive home. I still had a few errands on my list, but I decided to just go home and calm down. Typically, I’d call B but I couldn’t, and luckily my sister was right there when I needed her.

Moral is- it all gets to be so much sometimes, even for those of us that are “trained” to handle high levels of stress. None of us can do it all, and now more than ever, the world is moving so quickly around us. It’s important to take a step back and slooooow down.

…and don’t forget to b r e a t h e.

xo,

J