Beginning with Breath

The first thing you ever did for yourself was breathe. In order to enter into this life, you needed to take that first breath, no matter how scary or unfamiliar it felt to do so. And consciously focusing on your breath remains the epitome of self-care throughout your entire life. Breath is both starter and sustainer.

Have you ever noticed feeling tight and constricted when experiencing stress, overwhelm, or worry? Even during minor upsets, we tend to pull into ourselves like turtles retreating to the safety of their shells. In order to protect ourselves, we unconsciously get as small, compact, and hard as possible, which naturally leads to shallow, restricted breathing. The best thing you can do for yourself when you notice you’re barely breathing is to take a few deep, cleansing breaths.

Excerpted from The Woman's Book of Mindfulness by Sue Patton Thoele. Available on Amazon.