Did you know that your mental state is directly impacted by your breathing?1
It’s true! Your breath is a powerful tool.
If you’ve ever experienced a panic attack, or simply the physical symptoms of anxiety, you may have noticed a feeling of “shallow breathing”… or the sensation that you can’t take a deep breath.
The awareness of this feeling is your first step in turning it around for yourself. With this shallow breath, your body is under the assumption that you are in danger… so if you can, take a deep breath in and a full sigh out the mouth, a few times.
This week’s guided meditation is a breathing technique that triggers the opposite message to the body.
It’s called “Alternate Nostril Breathing” or Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, and the exercise is just like it sounds.
Using the thumb and ring finger, we gently block off one nostril, to breathe in through the left and then exhale out the right. And then we switch. This type of breathing exercise takes just enough focus to get your mind and breath to unite.
Give this breathing a technique a try for yourself!
This YouTube short is a one minute tutorial – but you can also just listen along on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Yogis have long used the tool of breathwork to settle the body and mind.
This one takes just enough focus and coordination that you will likely find yourself totally in the present. I remember feeling a little silly when I first tried it, but after a few deep breaths like this I was happy to pay the price of “feeling silly” for a moment!
Calm the body. Focus the mind. Reduce anxiety. Hack the nervous system.
All by the power of the breath!
Thank you so much for practicing with me.
See you next week for another #guidedmeditation 🙏
With Love, Esta 💕
with love , Esta 
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