Creating Breathing Room

Let’s face it, life is a busy place.  How can we find the time to slow down and catch our breath?  What helps me is “breathing room”.  A time or place that I set aside to reconnect with myself.  It is not so much about finding an external location but about permission to create a space to go with it – it is the internal room we make inside our hearts.

To begin, ask yourself what would feel really good.  What makes you feel lighter and inspired?  You may want to hold an object of emotional value or wear mala beads.  Whatever feels right to you.  Breathing room can be a ritual; a cup of green tea with a piece of dark chocolate.  The same everyday or different each time.

Think about timing.  When do I most need to breathe, for me, its after cooking dinner, the 15 mins when everything is simmering and there is nothing left to do.  I practice deep breathing, so I can really enjoy our family time afterwards, having taken a moment for myself.

Turn off anything that brings you back into the “doing” world, such as phones, and computers.  Find a comfortable place where you can be present with yourself for a time and enjoy.  Whether its yogic breathing, chanting mantras, praying, or speaking gratitude this is important time for your body, mind, spirit, and soul.

Just five to ten minutes per day can go a long way.  I invite you to create some more breathing room in your life and see what happens.