Autumn: balance and letting go ·
A few minutes of mindful breathing a day can ease the tension autumn often brings. Three simple exercises to begin with.
When the days grow shorter and life speeds up, the body is often the first to feel the tension. Breathing is a tool you always carry with you and it needs nothing but a few minutes.
First exercise: sit comfortably with your feet on the floor. Breathe in through the nose for four, hold for two, breathe out through the mouth for six. Repeat five times and notice your shoulders drop.
Second exercise: place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. Breathe so that only the hand on the belly moves. Two minutes is enough.
Third exercise: with every out-breath, silently say one word, for example "peace". When your thoughts wander, gently return to the breath without scolding yourself.
Start with three minutes a day, in the morning or evening, and let it become a habit.