Sometimes the only thing that we need to remind ourselves to do – is to breathe.
The breath is a fascinating part of our life – it is the only system of the body that we have the power to control, and yet it also works completely on its own. Taking a breath is the first thing we do when we are born, and the last thing we do when we die. It is the single most powerful part of our existence in this body.
One of the most beautiful things about the breath is how we can use it to our advantage. Unlike other essential functions of the body (heart beating, food digesting, blood circulating, etc.), we have control over our breath as long as we are in the waking state. And we can use this to our advantage in order to create a healthy state of being in body and mind.
16 Seconds is one of my favorites for immediately dropping into the present moment. You can do it anywhere, anytime, no matter what is going on around you. You don’t even need to close your eyes – it’s a good one to use when you are feeling a reaction coming on due to whatever stimulus is surrounding you.
Simply inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, and hold for 4 seconds.
Thank you to Sharon Salzberg for this reminder to breathe!
~From Davidji