B - is for Breathe - Breathe In, Breathe Out

Ever thought about breathing?  Have you ever taken note of HOW you breathe?  I know I never did until I took my first yoga class.  Now, when I was in labor, I tried to breathe as our birthing coach had taught me, but after 16 hours and no results/baby, it was more screaming then breathing.  LOL! 

Through yoga, I learned that most of us do not breathe properly.  Imagine that!  We do it all day, everyday and most of us have been doing it wrong our ENTIRE lives!  So how does one breathe properly you may ask.  Well, Sugar Magnolia is here to tell ya.

Proper breathing involves filling the lungs completely from the top...all the way down to the very bottom.  You should feel your rib cage expand and contract with each inhalation and each exhalation.  If you haven't been breathing properly, and you begin to do it, you will notice that your ribs will actually be sore for a few days, just as the rest of your body is after a tough workout.  It is a good idea to always breathe in through the nose because the nose has those ugly little hairs in it that filter germs before the air enters your lungs.  Breathing in through the mouth is not a good idea unless you have stuffy nose and that's the only way you can breathe.

When you breathe deeply, and properly, you are filling your lungs with oxygen.  The more oxygen you bring in, the more oxygen floods your bloodstream, the more energy you have, the better you feel.  So if you would like to feel better and have more energy it may be as simple as breathe in...breathe out...deeply.

Awareness

The word awareness as defined by Webster's Dictionary implies having knowledge of something through alertness in observing or in interpreting what one sees, hears, feels, etc.  I have to wonder how aware we really are. 

As I go about my day, from the moment it begins until it ends, I try to be aware.  I try to be aware of the beauty of the natural world, sunrises and sunsets, the changing seasons, the ebb and flow of the tide and the phases of the moon.  I work to be aware of other peoples' feelings, hopes, dreams, needs and my connection to them.  I strive to be aware of what is going on in the world around me, but with all of this energy being spent trying to be aware of everything, sometimes I totally overlook what's going on with ME.

How aware are you to your own thoughts, feelings, needs and physical body?  Do you take time out to re-charge your batteries?  Do you hear your body calling out to you to slow down, eat, rest and play when you need to?  Are you AWARE that sometimes we all need a little ME time?  Become aware of YOU.