The power of your breath. Seriously…it’s powerful.

 The power of your breath.  Seriously…it’s powerful.

This is a bit of  cliche statement.  And the problem with a cliche statement like this is that a lot of people ‘get’ it, but they’ve heard it so often and take it so for granted…that they say it…but don’t bother to do it.

So here I go again…saying it.  Working with your breath is one of the most powerful and quickest ways to calm you you and bring you back to your centre…which is a pretty nifty trick to be able to do.  This is so relevant to everyone, unless of course you have zero stress in your life. 😉  Whether deaing with a death, other big traumas, or just in everyday life, your breath can do so much more for you than you realise.

I’m  writing to you about this because I was reminded of it a few nights ago when I flew back into London.

I am not an awesome flyer.  Years ago I was.  Totally oblivious of where I was and the space beneath me, I would happily read and eat and sleep and watch movies without a care in the world.  Until one flight, also coming back to London, when we hit an air pocket and for about 2 seconds the plane just ….dropped.  Now to put it in perspective – that can be a scary experience for a lot of people.  But for me it was awful because that feeling of my stomach in my throat is horrible for me.  This is the reason I have never made it onto an adult rollercoaster. Riding the horsey on the carousel is my idea of excitement. I am no adrenaline junkie.  So when the plane dropped it freaked the living you-know-what outta me.  It also made me aware of where I was (in the air) and what was beneath me (nothing).  And I haven’t managed to forget.

And since that day I have been fine flying…except when there is any turbulence…..in which case I am a nervous wreck.   I grip the armrest like my life depends on it.  And, if it’s bad enough, I have been known to inadvertently grab the person next to me.  I also once had a small boy next to me reach over and take my hand when he saw how nervous I was.  Sweet…but a bit embarrassing.

So….on my flight the other night we hit some bumps in the road.  I have several strategies for dealing with this:

1. Drink.  If I know it’s going to be a bad flight, a few drinks at altitude sort me out. Though the mid-flight hangover makes me wonder if it’s worth it.

2.  Distract myself with a book or a movie.  This works too – I put the book very close to my face or turn the movie up loud and move my face very close to the screen for total sense-focus.  This only works so far for me though.  And then there is number…

3.  This is the only one I use now, the one that works instantly and is the most effective.

I close my eyes to disconnect with the world outside.  I breathe deeply and slowly into my belly, instead of just to my chest. And I force my body to relax.  Or really I allow my body to relax, letting my shoulders, my arms, etc, release the tension they are holding with each breathe.  Straight away when I do this I become aware of how shallow my breath had been and how my shoulders are rigid and up around my ears.

I do this and it calms me in about 2 seconds.  And if I keep doing it I stay calm.

I’m sure there is lots of science around the importance of oxygen and the effect on the body of getting enough of it right through the body…but I don’t care about that.  All I care about is that at a moment of severe stress and fear…it works.  It works better than distraction and it works waaaaay better than alcohol.

Try it – when you’re stressed, when you’re upset, when you’re frightened, when you’re angry, when you are overwhelmed.

You don’t need any fancy methods or techniques – your body knows what to do.  Just do what I did. Close your eyes and breathe deep and slow into your belly while focusing on the breath.  And see what happens.

Your breath.  Something you have available to you at any time…..and more powerful than you may have realised.

It can seem too simple and easy…but often things are and it is just us that expects the answers to be complicated, and outside of us, and involve a prescription from our doctor.  Your body has been equipped with all the tools it needs. You just have to use them.

Much love,

Kristie

xx