“Damn it! What?!” I exclaimed, exasperated as my little one called for me for what felt like the 80th time in five minutes. I again went to his side imploring, “I am right here, Honey, I’m just trying to cook dinner and I need to write a blog post about deep breathing tonight!” I immediately started laughing at the irony of the situation. What I really needed was to take a time out for breathing myself!
The laughter worked wonders to change the situation and all of our moods. Dinner had to wait and became a “fend for yourself” situation while I cuddled up next to my husband and little one. In the end, *that* was all we really needed…well, maybe that and a little breathing. And the blog post? Yes, that had to wait.
If you’ve worked with me, then you know that diaphragmatic breathing is at the foundation of the work we do together regardless of your stage of pregnancy or postpartum. The reasons for this go well beyond the physical and physiological benefits.
Diaphragmatic breathing offers mental and emotional healing as well; something from which we can all benefit.
Connecting with baby through breath
Try this. Do your best to find a comfortable position, relax your body and close your eyes. Take one deep breath in through the nose, feel the breath fill your belly. On the exhale, feel your belly come back to your spine. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Stay here for as long as feels comfortable, with your breath growing deeper with each inhale and exhale. Notice the tension melting away and feel an expansiveness in your chest as it yawns wide open with the new space you have created.
Try this throughout the day, returning to your breath when you feel tension creeping in, anxiety starting to mount, when you feel you can’t keep up with hustle around us.
Watch a video of my pregnant and postpartum clients practicing this breathing here!
Allow me to take you through a brief breathing exercise here!
Pregnant or postpartum, male or female, take the time to breathe and breathe deeply today. Let me help!
Follow along on Facebook this week for daily posts with resources to help keep you calm and breathing!