Take the time to Breathe

As a Dance Major in college my life is nonstop Physically. I am in dance class for three hours,  I have school right after,on most days I am not out until 6pm and sometimes I may have a three hour rehearsal after school and on top of that I still have homework and a social life. With a schedule that is physically draining it is easy to get overwhelmed and become detached. 

My first semester as a college freshman was very stressful because I was doing all of that and not really taking care of my body. Around November 2012 I started to take time out for myself every morning and evening to just breath. I would turn on my relaxation music and lie down on my yoga mat in my room with the lights off. During this time I would take deep breaths in and out of my nose (nostril breathing) then in through my nose and out of mouth. I would repeatedly do this exercises in different body positions that felt good to me.

After a few days of doing deep breath exercises I noticed a change in my body and attitude. I woke up in the morning less tense and I had a good attitude through out the day. Most of all I was less stressed and my mind felt clear and organized.

I recommend everyone to find time in their day to do deep breathing exercises. Whether is be for 10-15 minutes or even and hour. It all depends on what you feel you need that day.

Here are some of the benefits deep breathing will do for you:

· Purifies the bloodstream, allowing a detoxification to take place in the body.
· More efficient digestion due to increased oxygen reaching the stomach.
· Improved health of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves due to increased oxygen.
· Skin becomes smoother and healthier with a reduction in facial wrinkles.
· Healthier more powerful lungs, increasing stamina.
· Rejuvenates glands in the body including pituitary and pineal glands.
· Allows heart to last longer and work more efficiently.
· Fights against heart disease by providing extra oxygen to your heart's tissues.
· Relaxes mind and body without inducing tiredness. You feel relaxed and energized at the same time.
· Releases tension and reduces stress.

From: http://voices.yahoo.com/the-vital-importance-deep-breathing-improving-205289.html

Poses you can do:

• Simply lying on your back with bent or straight legs
• Childs Pose
• Fetal position
• Butterfly

Finding music for Zen and Meditation:

Here is an example from YouTube. It is almost 2 hours of music that I would let play during my workout. That way I do not have to worry about making a playlist.

• Buy a CD (Target, Amazon, Ebay etc.)
• Search iTunes selection
• YouTube is always great for finding music and you can turn those videos into an mp3 and save them to the device of your choice.

There are many different styles of Zen Relaxation music like the harp style or the more upbeat style. I advise that you adventure around and see what you like.

Something so simple as taking the time to breathe can really make a healthy impact on your lifestyle.  

                                                                                                     -Amor, Trinity Renée

"To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." -Buddha