Brain Breathing Exercise
Written by Casille Kristol, MC LAC
Breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and calm down.
“Breathe.
Breathing can transform your life.
If you feel stressed out and overwhelmed, breathe.
It will calm you and release the tensions.
If you are worried about something coming up, or caught up in something that already happened, breathe.
It will bring you back to the present.
If you are discouraged and have forgotten your purpose in life, breathe.
It will remind you about how precious life is, and that each breath in this life is a gift you need to appreciate. Make the most of this gift.
If you have too many tasks to do, or are scattered during your workday, breathe.
It will help bring you into focus, to concentrate on the most important task you need to be focusing on right now.
If you are spending time with someone you love, breathe.
It will allow you to be present with that person, rather than thinking about working or other things you need to do.
If you are exercising, breathe.
It will help you enjoy the exercise, and therefore stick with it longer.
If you are moving too fast, breathe.
It will remind you to slow down and enjoy life more.
So, breathe.
And enjoy each moment of this life. They’re too fleeting and few to waste.”
By Leo Babuta
Brain Breathing
When a room feels stuffy and it is difficult to breathe, it helps to open a window to get some clean air circulating. While our brains don’t really “breathe” like we do, but sometimes our minds need some fresh air.
Begin the exercise by breathing regularly, then slow down and concentrate on bringing deep, full breaths into your belly and letting those breaths out slowly through your mouth.
Now, as you breathe in, imagine fresh, cool air flowing up into your head and swirling around your brain. This time, instead of breathing out through your mouth, let the air flow back out through your nose. With your next breath in, imagine the air collecting any worries with it and pulling them back out through your nose as it exits. Fresh, cool air in. Worry-filled air out.
With the next breath in, imagine the air getting a little stronger, but still gentle, like a swirling wind. Imagine the air coming in, gathering up anything heavy or dark in your brain. Now, imagine the heavy, dark air escaping through your nose and your ears this time. It can’t get back in, and the only thing left behind is clean, light air. If you have a headache, imagine that being pulled out, too.
Continue to breathe this way until you imagine that all your worries, darkness, or pain have been pulled away, leaving only a light, clear mind.
Exercise, adapted from Robin Alter PhD, CPsych and Crystal Clarke MSW, RSW