Breathing Hard: It's not just for XXX
When my grandbabies are fussy, I tell them, “sit in the floor with me. Let’s find our center” They will sit down across from me and I will say, “cross your legs like Nana.” They will usually already have their little legs crossed at the ankles and their knees bowed out. I say, “Breathe in hold it and breathe out.” We do that for a few minutes. After they have had a few calming breathes, I say, now calmly tell nana what’s up. If one or both begin getting all fussy again, I said, “breathe in, breathe out.” I know that sounds a little weird to teach a yoga technique like that to my babies, but you will be surprised out effective that can be at not only calming them down at that moment, but also how quickly they learn to get centered on their own.
I have never been a big fan of yoga simply because most of those moves are difficult for me to do and they can cause horrible injuries; however, doing some of the basic breathing in and out exercises and a few of the modified stretching exercises can totally relieve stress and stress is one of those horrible reactions that we have that sets off a chemical reaction into our body that does a lot of things: 1) slows down our metabolism by rushing oxygen to our muscles for fight or flight; 2) pouring some really heavy doses of neurotoxins into our blood stream that have some pretty harmful affects upon our mind and body; and 3) create anxiety that then begins a chain reaction that affects our liver and our heart.
Today, I am going to be in a rush all day, so most of the day, I will be working to maintain my center and ward off stress.
My exercise today: Zumba and this evening, I am doing some foxtrotting with my gay boyfriend who I teasingly tell my hubby is my lover boy.
I know that I give you guys information that you all already know, but I think it helps to hear things that can help you stay in the zone. Today, if you drive somewhere, park far away. Take the stairs, even if you have to walk one step at a time and pull yourself up using the railing. And, for thirty minutes today, sit in the floor or in your kitchen chair and with your arms at your side, breathe in—hold one, two, three, four, and breathe out. Do this for about ten or so minutes then just sit and let your brain rest. The last ten minutes, do some arm stretches or leg stretches. I like to hold one arm straight up over my head and stretch to the sky then touch the back of my head with my hands and point my elbow as straight up as I can. Neck stretches are also good.
After you breathe and stretch, you will be surprised at how good you will fill.
Thanks for doing this and reminding me about breathing exercises, because I have read that deep breathing aids the ability to aid our metabolisms and forgotten, as I was in the gym and doing that, so breathing hard was happening as a result thereof.
Have a good day Jeanne, thanks for coming back on board, I wish others who have fled would come back too.
Hugs, Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
That is the exercize I use to help with panic attacks. Concentrating on breathing is better than focusing on the panic.
Today is water aerobics. I have not been going to the gym due to belly issues. Back on Omeprazole is helping so no more excuses.
Being a nervous nelly has always haunted me. Going to the gym relaxes mind, body and spirit.
Annette 
