A wonderful way to re-boot and refresh is to take a minute here and there during the day to breathe purposefully. In other words, take time when you really need it to relax on purpose.
Before you start 'officially,' place your hands on your stomach and take a few deep breaths. Notice your stomach rise and fall. If the 'rise and fall' isn't easy to notice, breathe a little deeper.
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9 Breaths
As you inhale during the first three breaths, imagine your
breath traveling to any physical tension you are holding in your body, and then
imagine the exhalation carrying this tension away.
As you inhale with the next three breaths, imagine the
breath traveling to any place in your body where you feel you are holding
emotional tension, and then imagine the exhalation carrying this tension out of
your body.
During the last three breaths, inhale into the part of your
body where you are holding mental tension such as worries, thoughts about what
you are doing, or fears that you can’t be successful. Breathe into the place in
your body where you are holding this mental tension and then release it with
the exhalation.
(If you're new to this kind of mindful breathing, for a week or two simply take the nine breaths with your hands on your stomach keeping as much attention as you can on what your breath feels like as it comes in your nose and as it moves your hands. When this begins to feel familiar, begin to work with the next three steps.)
--Tsultrim Allione (Joan Ewing). Feeding Your Demons: Ancient
Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict
