Holding My Breath

When you try to tell someone you think something is unlikely you say, “don’t hold your breath.” Why? Aside from the obvious, I mean. Especially now, our breath is important. Our breath is the constant reminder that we are alive. Without it, we cease to be. Establishing the mind-body connection as much as we can is so vital. One of the best ways to do that is through our breath. Whether that’s through breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or even plugging your nose before jumping in, taking a moment to remember and appreciate your breath is critical. In moments of anxiety, stress, anger, and frustration one of the first things we forget to do is breathe. Sometimes, that can trick our bodies into going into “emergency” mode. If we think there’s danger, our bodies will speed up our breath in preparation to fight or to run. Pumping the brakes on our minds when we start to feel overwhelmed is so helpful to make sure we are communicating efficiently with others and that we clear the mental space to hear what others are communicating to us. Take a big, full belly breath in until your tummy sticks out. Hold it. Slowly breathe it out until your lungs are empty. Repeat.

Did you know that this breathing technique oxygenates your blood, energizing your body and brain? It’s a technique I use before plunging into the ocean for these photo sets and videos, so that I can stay under longer and have more energy to tread water and swim. Our breath is so important to our state of being both mentally and emotionally and physically.

So, I guess what I’m saying is, Sometimes it’s best to not hold your breath, sometimes it’s best to come up to the surface for air when you get that choking feeling, breathe in deeply and feel your lungs expand to their full capacity then enjoy breathing it all out. Repeat multiple times. It’s really a great tip for battling depression and anxiety.