When I was little, around 8 years old, I remember sleeping at my friend’s house and having this feeling in my chest like I couldn’t breathe.
It felt like tightness, constricting and overwhelming me. I didn’t really know what it was or what to do, but somehow I intuitively knew to lie down on the floor, extend my arms above my head, close my eyes and take deep breaths.
This physical opening of my heart space would give me room to breathe and help me feel calm. After a few deep open heart breaths, I would feel good again.
While I remember this feeling so well, it was not until later that I understood what I was naturally doing…honoring, nurturing and centering myself.
Now I recognize this feeling as alignment. Centering in peace in my heart. Reconnecting with my inner wisdom and knowing all is well in the present moment, in the breath.
This was ten years before any personal studies of yoga or meditation or the power of breath and I intuitively already knew how to soothe and realign myself.
This intuitive knowing is common in children. When we give children space to follow their inner knowing, we can witness the profound depth of their wisdom.
I share this memory from my childhood breathing and centering experience as a reminder that this is still a powerful technique to use when we feel overwhelmed, out of sorts, or unwell.
And if we are nurturing children, holding space for ourselves to breathe can be a meaningful practice to model and to help us connect with children from a place of peace and compassion.
Taking a few moments to come to the earth, to expand our physical posture and give ourselves space, to tune into our breath and come back to center can change us.
Just a few moments can shift our energy in meaningful ways and align us with our feel good flow.
If you’ve been experiencing unsettling energy in recent times, or if you’ve experienced any personal discord, I invite you to gift yourself even a few moments in the midst of the storm to find your center again, to slow down and breathe.
So simple. So powerful. So transformative.
I keep remembering the power of this practice in my own life experience…are you remembering it, too?
Be the first to comment.