Box breathing is an easy skill to learn and it will quiet the agitated mind. The technique is simple. Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for four counts, breathe out for four counts, hold for four counts. A handy square visual can bring the method to mind.
This morning I was teaching a young boy at the piano. He was frustrated with keeping a steady beat. I observed that he was holding his breath. I asked him to breathe slowly for just a minute and promised that he would get through this wall faster if he would keep breathing. I noted more relaxation. He found his breath at the same time he found his beat. This month of March I have studied breathing, both in myself and also the words of others who value this essential tactile expression of mindfulness above all others. "It's all about the breathing, ma'am."
"The second you choose to mind your breath you have decided that this present moment, this very moment, is worthy of your full attention."
In my devotional reading this morning it was about not trying to work things out before their time. It talked about accepting the limitations of living one day at a time. This ties into one breath at a time. It also talked about releasing these things to the Lord and knowing that we don't have to handle this world on our own.
ReplyDeletethat young lad is so fortunate you are using the mindful breathing to help relax him and then, in turn, to find the beat. Well done -- both of you!
ReplyDeleteI liked the example from your piano lesson. It's interesting how something as simple as breathing can have such a big impact on other areas of our life. I like the Donna Farhi quote too.
ReplyDeleteI chose the word breathe as my word for the year a couple of years ago. My cousin and I will say it to each other when going through challenging times. We've ended emails that way. It's crazy that something we have to do to live is also something we need to be reminded to do. Purposeful breathing is different. Our program director has taught me a similar version of the box breathing. I may be practicing it at the dentist later today ;) Thanks for this always needed reminder.
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