How to Become Calmer

This time of year can be hectic. There’s a lot going on! And when we suffer from autoimmunity, the busyness, the constant stream of information, the intensity of the world – hits us even harder.

What can we do?

We can BREATHE.

This isn’t trite. Think about it: you could live for like 40 days without food, 3 or 4 without water, but what’s the one thing you can’t live without for more than a few minutes? Your breath.

That’s one indicator how important it is, but there are many others, a few of which I’ll discuss below.

You may be feeling like you live in a fog. You’re going through the motions. At then end of the day you’re bone tired.

I’ve been there.

Today I live most of my days vibrantly. The practices that healed me originally are still part of my life. I live them every day because they keep me healed.

One foundational practice is breathwork. I teach it in my yoga classes.

Because the breath influences the nervous system, it’s a crucial piece of the well being puzzle.

Part of the role of our nervous system is to tell us when to freak out and stress, and when to chill. I believe this holds a key to healing autoimmunity. When you’re anxious, a cascade of issues that stimulate autoimmunity rain down within your body.

But, when you learn to manage stress, you spend much more time with your nervous system in a rest, digest, and restore mode. This mode is stimulated by the parasympathetic nervous system, a part of our autonomic nervous system – these systems are influenced by the quality of our breath.

Rest, digest, and restore mode is the foundation to true health.

James Nestor writes in his book called Breath, “Breathing is a power switch to a vast network, called the autonomic nervous system…The lungs are covered with nerves that extend to both sides of the autonomic nervous system and many of the nerves connecting to the parasympathetic system are located in their lower lobes, which is one reason long and slow breaths are so relaxing… The deeper and more softly we breathe in, and the longer we exhale, the more slowly the heart beats and the more calm we become.“

Yogic breathing works to calm you on many levels. The calmer you stay as you ride life’s storms, the calmer the autoimmunity stays.

Your body is an ecology of systems. And although it doesn’t always feel like it, I believe you can take charge of this ecology with your highest and best self.

Conscious breathing is a foundational way to begin doing this.

Breathe in for a count of 4, slowly. Pause for a count of 2. Exhale for a count of 5 – exhale like you mean it. Pause for 2.

Repeat. Do this for five minutes and notice how you feel afterward.

Let me guess – calmer? 🙂

Remember, it’s SO important to care for your health. Taking five minutes every day to do this exercise can be life changing. You are worth it!!

This coming weekend is a powerful time to set intentions for next year.

Even if you don’t feel that great right now, it’s worth writing down your intentions for next year. Are you ready to begin a healing program? Are you ready to feel better? Write it down.

Next month I’ll be launching my Move to Heal program. This is a supportive program for healing autoimmunity including coaching, yoga, breath work, recipes, and more. If that’s something that could potentially support you achieve your 2022 health goals, stay tuned.

Wishing you pockets of calm today,

Amanda

Please visit the link below for more information:

http://www.therhythmiclifestyle.com