For many of us, the last week has been somewhat chaotic and mad—maybe more than the last week.
This episode was recorded on Saturday, March 21st 2020 in New York City in the midst of the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic happening around the world. But that’s not the focus of the episode—the point of this short moment is to breathe, together.
I’ll walk you through one of my favorite practices that I use when I’m tired, anxious, or stressed. It’s a pattern of breath called 4-7-8, shared by Dr. Andrew Weil, that can help reduce stress, tension, and anxiety.
Don’t forget to exhale through all of this. If you’re tired, scared, stressed, overworked, or feeling all the feelings, this episode is for every one of us. It’s a short method to help catch your breath, tap into your body, and exhale away some of the tension.
Please note: if you’re currently pregnant or think you might be, be mindful to do the breath work without the retention (holding), and tune into your body as you do it to see how it feels for you.
Listen to The Startup Pregnant Podcast Episode #147
Here are some more details about the practice from Dr. Weil’s website (along with videos):
Conscious breathing takes various forms. Dr. Weil believes each variety can be a useful tool for achieving a desired mental or physical state. As the Zen Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh puts it, “Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.
The 4-7-8 Breath (also known as the Relaxing Breath) is the perfect, portable stress antidote, as it puts the practitioner in a relaxed state almost immediately. As Dr. Weil demonstrates, It takes almost no time, requires no equipment and can be done anywhere.
Sending you all a big, virtual hug.