Breathing EasyMaintaining an easy breathing pattern, where your chest and diaphragm are relaxed and moving naturally in harmony with each inhale and exhale helps re-develop and maintain a comfortable physical state with a clear and alert mind. How to use Easy Breathing1. Pay attention to the natural, effortless movement of your breathing cycle. Feel the movements and sensations. 2. Pay attention to the inhale, then the slight pause, followed by the natural exhale, and then another slight pause. 3. Do this for three or four minutes - paying attention to nothing else. (In the beginning it is likely that accumulated tensions and poor breathing habits may have produced an uneven breathing pattern. If this is the case you may find it helpful to first use the Sigh Breath method a few times to calm and regularise your breathing.) Through practise you may discover ways of utilising Easy Breathing as a Quick Relaxer - a way of relaxing quickly for a few moments. As you encounter these experiment to discover which methods you find most suitable for the different situations in your life. When to use Easy Breathing1. Whenever you wish to pace yourself and maintain a calmer and more centred internal state - at work, in sport, socially, etc. 2. When you wish to clear your thinking in order to give your full attention to an important matter. 3. As a Quick Relaxer- especially when it is inappropriate to relax with eyes closed, or to fully stop what you are doing. 4. To develop the habit of maintaining a clear mind and calm body. Use Easy Breathing in odd spare moments: in lifts, in queues, in waiting rooms, at traffic lights, during the TV `adverts', while listening to someone, waiting on the phone, or when you are being delayed. In this way you can turn what might otherwise been a frustrating or irritating event into a beneficial and centering experience. 5. To develop an on-going natural awareness of your physical state - so that any chest tightness or breathing unevenness alerts you to take action to clear your thinking and calm your body. 6. To train yourself to feel mentally and physically comfortable even when under pressure. Benefits of Easy Breathing | Helps defuse the physical effects of the stress response | | Provides an instant break and reduces frantic mental activity by centring your attention on a single issue rather than having it scattered | | Enables you to take a mental and physical break without stopping what you are doing | | Enables you to maintain physical comfort while being mentally active. |
The Breathing pages | 
