Are You Aware That You Are Breathing?

March 6, 2022

Breathing 😮‍💨 

The sign of life is breath.  

We pay close attention to the breath as babies are being born and as loved ones are transitioning. 

Life is all about the breath, yet you pay so little attention to your breath.

Be honest with me: When was the last time you really paid attention to your breath?

Stop now and notice.  Are you breathing from your chest or belly?  Is your breath deep and full or short and shallow?  Is your breath long and slow, or short and fast?

What are you noticing?

Our breath has a direct connection and relationship to our nervous system.

Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which sends a signal to your brain to tell the anxious part that you’re safe and don’t need to use the fight, flight, or freeze response. 

Deep breathing gets more oxygen to the thinking brain.

As human beings and as parents we must get to know our breath so we can support our nervous system consciously and our children’s nervous system as well.

Often we jump out of bed and into our day without stopping. As parents, we get swept up in the ‘busyness’ of all the daily doings. 

Pay attention this week to what comes first. You or your breath. 

Here are three ways to bring awareness to your breath each day.

Find three times throughout the day to check in with yourself and pay attention to your breath.( I find built-in transitions work well for me. For instance, before I jump out of bed, mid-day before lunch, right before I go to bed.)

1: Notice if your breath is:

• • • • moving rapidly or slowly
      • shallow or deep
      • coming from the belly or from the chest

2: Breath Intentionally

Take 1-4 deep breaths filling your belly like a big balloon on the inhale and gently exhale your breath out through the mouth.

3: Notice how your body feels

Bring awareness to what sensations are occurring in the moment.  Simply notice how you are feeling without judging your experience.

That is it. That is the practice.  Seems too simple? It is.

You can integrate this short practice into your day anywhere you go without anyone noticing and will only take a minute or two but has huge benefits to your nervous system and as an added bonus to those around you, especially your kids and family.

When we take responsibility for our breath we are taking an important first step to becoming a more conscious parent, partner, and person.

Register for Mastering Mindfulness on March 22: Back to the Basics

To parenting authentically and not perfectly,

Annmarie Chereso
Author, Speaker, Coach, & Meditation Teacher