Just because we all breathe, doesn’t mean we are doing it properly! And with so much sadness, fear and worry in the air, we can really help ourselves by breathing correctly.
Eve Lom is planning a retail launch later this year of her Conscious Breathing routine called In+Out+In+Out+. In the meantime here are the basics for you to try.
Eve uses a string of hand knotted ‘beads’ (but you can use mala beads) to keep count of the breath and has formulated a scent to create an olfactory conditioned response which will be part of her new venture.
THE BREATHING POSITION
You can practice Conscious Breathing lying down flat on your back, reclining or sitting – the important thing is to be in a relaxed, balanced and comfortable position.
THE BREATH
Inhale through your nostrils, start drawing a slow gentle breath in from the tail bone up along the spine to the top of your head. Then a small pause.
Exhale through the nostrils in front of your body all the way down to the pubic bone and pause again.
Stay in that moment for as long as you can before inhaling again. If at this point you feel you need to inhale straightaway, you are forcing the breath and you are trying too hard.
Try to feel the quality of your breath. Slow or fast, uneven or laboured? Is the inhale easier than the exhale? It should be easy and smooth both ways.
THE BREATHING LOOP
Inhale and count in your mind, whatever that number is, extend the exhale for two more, so if you inhale for 3, 5 or even 7, then exhale for 5, 7 or 9. If you’re a beginner, it doesn’t matter how long your breath is. Inhale as much air as your lungs can take, without ‘gasping’.
COUNTING YOUR BREATHS
The idea is to master your breathing loop and ultimately reach 108 effortless breaths, but most people start at nine and as you get more practiced increase in nines to 18 then 27 then 36 etc.
So to count your breaths without keeping score, tie a ribbon after nine beads and hold them gently between your thumb and forefinger resting the beads lightly across your tummy. After each breath just slip one bead through and when you feel the ribbon, you have completed nine breaths. As you increase the number of breaths you take, move the ribbon to 18, then 27 eventually reaching 108.
FIND TIME TO BREATHE
Try to adjust your schedule so you book an appointment with your breath each day. This is something for yourself that you don’t share. A little self-indulgence is good, so if you can find time twice a day to dedicate to yourself and your breath, please do! If not, don’t worry – we’re only human after all.