Claim your air

Mon, May 12 12:35 AM

Does it ever occur to you that most people these days are leading frenzied lives, much like those hyper charged wind-up toys which don't have a 'turn off' switch. Whether it's rushing for work in the mornings, getting the kids ready for school, driving through the mad maze of traffic or even partying away at a discotheque, there is an immensely chaotic urgency in everything we do.

After all, in this age of two-minute noodles, instant mixes and heat and amp; eat meals, who has the time to slow down? Stress and pressure have become such an intrinsic part of our lives that if gifted with a sudden or unplanned holiday, a lot of us would be clueless and perplexed on what to do. The biggest casualty in the frenetic way we 'execute' our day is the sense of calmness which is lost on most of us by now.

It's time we slow down before our health forces us to. We need to give our mind and body, the semblance of calm and sanity they deserve.

Let's embark upon a journey into a world where nothing moves fast and there's no rush to get anywhere or achieve anything. Each week, this column would aim to inform you about simple ways being adopted by people all over the world to achieve tranquility and composure, in the face of aggravation.

Breathe right The first and most important step to calmness is something that all of us have been doing all our lives but very few have been doing it right. Breathe.

Not the way you've been doing subconsciously, but deep, lung filling breathing. Take a couple of deep breaths during a particularly stressful time and see the magic.

A simple trick is to inhale through the nose to a slow count of four. Envision the air filling up your lungs, from your belly right upto your collarbone.

Pause for a split second at the top of the breath and exhale, again to a slow count of four. Feel the air go out, from the collarbone to the belly.

Squeeze the abs to make sure it is all out. Deep breathing every now and then during the day can do wonders to relieve stress.

Just claim the air which is rightfully yours, and feel the calmness it brings with it.

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