Deep Breathing to Calm Your Mind

by Lisa Chilvers ~

While working in acquired brain injury rehabilitation, I would use deep breathing techniques with my clients as a way to reduce stress and help them cope with physical pain. It hadn’t occurred to me that this was a form of meditation and that mediation starts with the breath.

Now that we’ve been using the So Hum meditation from 6 Ways Deep Breathing Helps You, I wanted to share another beneficial breathing technique. This is great for clearing mental fog or waking you from that afternoon slump. Before you can calm the mind you must control the breath.  To help further your experience try Breathing for Clarity and Calming:

1. With the right hand, fold your index and middle finger and curl them into your palm. Your thumb, ring and pinky fingers should be sticking up. Now place your middle finger and index finger between your eyebrows.

2. Place thumb on the right side of your nose and ring finger on the left side.

3. With the thumb, close off the right nostril.

4. Inhale slowly and comfortably through the left nostril.

5. With your ring finger close off the left nostril.

6. Open and exhale through the right nostril slowly and comfortably.

7. Inhale slowly and comfortably through the right nostril.

8. With your thumb, close off the right nostril.

9. Open and exhale slowly and comfortably through the left nostril.

10. Inhale slowly and comfortably through the left nostril.

Follow this pattern for a minute, and gradually increase the time to your level. As you breathe, feel your thoughts become steady, clear, and focused.

Photo by JohnONolan

Lisa Chilvers is the Co-founder of Holistic United. She is a passionate nutritionist and holistic allergist. Lisa is dedicated to helping practitioners market their services and products in order to achieve their goals and grow their business. For more information on Lisa Chilvers visit her holistic united profile.

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