• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Leap Forward Coaching

Leap Forward Coaching

Life, Executive and Career Coaching

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Executive Coaching
    • Life Coaching
    • Career Coaching
    • Our Process
  • Clients
  • Newsletters
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Contact

Just Breathe

August 7, 2018 by leapforward 1 Comment

Take a breath. Your breath has the power to energize, calm, and heal — but harnessing that power requires intention and practice. I encourage you to just breathe for greater health and well-being.

Warmly,

Melanie Ott

Inspirational Thoughts

“He lives most life whoever breathes most air.” ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“Breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on Earth.” ~ Sanskrit proverb

Breathing for Happiness & Health

Breathing: It’s the first and last thing we do in life. The average person takes up to 23,000 breaths a day … and because breathing happens automatically, it’s easy to take for granted. But nothing is more important — breath literally keeps us alive!

Did you know there’s a “right way” to breathe, a way that has a positive impact on you health? Here’s the basic idea: Inhale through the nose, taking deep breaths that fill your belly. Then exhale longer than your inhale. Pause, then repeat, as rhythmically as possible.

Natural Stress Relief

Learning to control your breath may be the secret to better health and a more peaceful and productive mind. Practicing proper breathing techniques can reverse your body’s response to stress. It slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, diffuses your emotional reactions, and calms your body and mind.

Your breath is impacted by your thoughts and emotions and visa versa. We know this intuitively, which is why when people are anxious, angry, or fearful, we invoke the classic advice: “Take a deep breath!”

Fuel for Your Brain

Mindful breathing has also been shown to increase mental clarity. When you’re holding your breath, or your breath is shallow, your brain receives less oxygen — leaving you fuzzy-headed, dizzy, or headachey. The next time you’re having trouble expressing yourself, thinking through a complex situation, or making an important decision, take slow, deep breaths to give your brain the oxygen it needs.

The benefits of proper breathing are well worth the investment of slowing down and practicing this most basic, life-giving activity. Mindful breathing is free, available 24/7, and it’s literally right under your nose.

So pause … focus … and just breathe!

Tips to Focus & Improve Your Breathing

  • Be intentional. To harness the power of your breath, commit to spending a few minutes each day connecting to your breath, through meditation or just sitting quietly. Notice how your breath feels as it moves in and out of your body.
  • Notice your triggers. We all have different situations that cause us to shorten or stop breathing. Your triggers might be rush hour traffic, confrontations, or certain people. Calm, even breathing will help you navigate tricky situations with greater steadiness.
  • Connect with your breath. Place a hand on your chest when you feel the need to reconnect to your breath. Connecting with the rise-and-fall of your chest helps slow your breathing and regain control over your body and mind. Focusing on your breath creates “breathing room” to self-regulate, think, create, and be your best self.
  • Practice mindful breathing. The next time you feel a wave of anxiety, stress, or anger come over you, stop and use the “4-7-8 breath technique.” Breathe in for four seconds; hold for seven seconds; breath out for eight seconds. This helps calm your parasympathetic nervous system and counteract rising adrenaline.

Leap Forward Coaching offers a system and support for making positive life changes consistent with your values and goals. As your coach I am dedicated to helping you improve your well-being and reach your fullest potential.

Filed Under: Archive Newsletter, Mindfulness, Prescription for Health, Self Care, Thrive, Worry & Anxiety, Zen Habits

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Lighten Up (On Yourself!) | Leap Forward Coaching| Life, Executive and Career Coaching says:
    March 3, 2020 at 9:00 am

    […] breathe. When you’re feeling stressed, challenged, or just having a hard day, stop and take some deep breaths. Sometimes deep breathing does the […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

RSS
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Tweet
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Newsletter Signup | Leap Forward Coaching, LLC

Newsletter Archive
Complimentary Coaching Meeting

Archives

  • November 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • October 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • January 2014
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • June 2013
  • April 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • April 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • September 2011
  • June 2011
  • March 2011
  • January 2011
  • October 2010
  • June 2010
  • April 2010
  • January 2010
  • November 2009
  • October 2009

Categories

  • Archive Newsletter
  • Balance
  • Celebrate Gratitude
  • Confidence
  • Cultivate Creativity
  • Decision Making
  • Declutter
  • Discover Your Strengths
  • Dreams For Success
  • Focus on the Future
  • Focus-Building Tips
  • Forgiveness
  • Going Green
  • Happiness
  • Joy
  • Kindness
  • Life Purpose
  • Lifelong Learning
  • Living Courageously
  • Mindfulness
  • Multitasking
  • Patience
  • Planning For Success
  • Prescription for Health
  • Relationships
  • Resilience
  • Self Care
  • Thanksgiving
  • Thrive
  • Transition
  • Using Technology
  • Worry
  • Worry & Anxiety
  • Zen Habits

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Clients
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Client Login
  • Sitemap
  • Executive Coaching
  • Life Coaching
  • Career Coaching
  • Our Process

Copyright © 2011-Present Leap Forward Coaching, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Handcrafted with by Studiodog