What's Your Breath Trying to Tell You?

Do you find yourself holding your breath throughout the day? Could the breath be trying to tell you something? It’s amazing how the breath can reveal what’s going on in our minds and perceived situations in our daily lives. Maybe you've been cut off in traffic and your breath has become shallow and choppy. How about when you get called into the bosses office and you hold your breath the entire time you're there!

The more you can tap into and become aware of your breath, you can start to tune into the many clues your breath is continuously giving you throughout the day and start to consciously create more ease. As you read, take a moment and listen to the quiet underneath the noise in the room. As you focus, you may have already unconsciously slowed down and deepened your breath.

Here's a few clues your breath may offer. If you notice your breathing is...

1. shallow breath - feeling anxious 
2. unconsciously holding your breath - you may be having thoughts of anger or fear
3. strained and choppy- you may be feeling rushed or stressed
4. deep rhythmic belly breathing  - calm and at ease


Here's a few tips for practicing more deep belly breathing throughout the day...

- Place your hands of the lower belly. As you inhale feel the navel move away from the spine. As you exhale feel the navel draw back towards the spine.

- Relax the upper body as you breathe. When you find yourself stressed, you may also find the upper chest, throat and jaw gripping. As you practice belly breathing imagine these areas soft, relaxed and quiet. 

- Allow the breath to be smooth and seamless. As you breathe, listen to your breath, imagine it coming in and out like gentle waves on the ocean.

- Take your time to fully exhale. In stressful situations, the breath can be short and choppy. When you feel calm, the breath extends and lengthens. Begin your breathing with equal counts: in-one, two, three, four; out-one, two, three, four. For a deeper state of relaxation, try extending your exhalations so eventually your exhale becomes twice as long as the inhale. When ready, change to a count of four in and eight out. Take your time, let go of any effort. Tip: start by extending the exhalation by one or two seconds until it feels easy. 

As you practice being mindful with your breath, you can start to create more space in every part of your life. The key is to remember that whatever shows up, you have a choice to simply pay attention, breathe and allow yourself to be with what is. If the drama and trauma shows up, you can choose to go into overwhelm or you can step back and take a slow, deep breath. From awareness and allowance, you can then consciously choose how you respond and open yourself up to new possibilities!

Creating More Vitality with Easy Twist

There’s one easy pose renowned for it's balancing and toning powers and I personally love it's ability to cleanse the body from head to toe...yes, it's twists!

The idea goes that twists cleanse the internal organs much in the same way as when you wring out a wet towel... the squeezing action massages organs, stimulating and refreshing healthy functioning as you release toxins.  Twists also create more movement of internal fluids, plumping the discs in your spine and allowing a fresh supply of oxygenated blood to flow in.

If you’re like me, you want to take the easy route to feeling refreshed, calmer and rejuvenated..Luckily easy twisting movement squeeze and stretch the torso muscles, nerves, glands and organs from the pelvis all the way up through the neck.

Try adding a gentle seated twist from a chair to feel calmer and more energized throughout the day! As you twist, notice the energy and vitality you open to...
**See bottom of page for caution.

Sit facing the right side of your chair.  

Clasp your hands around the back of the chair.

Without moving your hips, gently start to turn your belly towards the back of the chair.

Inhale lengthen, exhale turn from the navel, ribs, then chest.

With each inhale sit taller, exhale gently twist.

Chin stays level, with an option to look over the right shoulder slightly.

Hold for 15-30 seconds and repeat on the opposite side.

Breathe deep and feel the power of wringing stress out of your body, mentally and physically. As you release the twist, take a moment and enjoy the ahhhh” feeling in your body and mind.

For more information about live classes, workshops and "Happy Yoga with Sarah Starr" visit www.happyyoga.tv

**Note: If you have any physical impairments or limitations, please be sure to check with your physician before using this or any of Sarah's programs. Pregnant women should not practice twists or any other abdominal tightening poses. 

Break Out Of The Slump!

Do you spend most of your day hunched over a computer? Let's break out of the slump and create more energy and vitality in your body with backbends! I know, backbends can sound a bit daunting, but the good news is...resistance is a natural part of releasing old habits and stepping into the unfamiliar, so be easy on yourself.  

Here’s a suggestion for incorporating backbends into your daily life. Start by keeping it short and sweet.

Try doing small backbends throughout the day at work... 

**See bottom of page for caution.

1. Sitting towards the edge of your chair, clasp your hands around each side of the chair behind you.

2. Straighten your arms and draw the shoulders down away from your ears.

3. Pull the shoulder blades together and lift your heart.

4. Chin stays level or option to look up slightly.

Breathe and enjoy. Backbends can help you to feel more energized and uplifted... It can be that easy!

For more information on Happy Yoga classes, videos or workshops, visit:www.happyyoga.tv

**Note: If you have any physical impairments or limitations, please be sure to check with your physician before using this or any of Sarah's programs. Pregnant women should not practice twists or any other abdominal tightening poses.

   

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What possibilities are you ready to create for you and your body?

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Prana-what??? Use Your Breath to Overcome Stress

The beautiful shapes of arm balances and impressive pretzel poses may be the most eye catching aspect of Yoga but the breath practice related to Yoga (Pranayama)  is where the real action lies. I know, Prana-what? Who doesn’t know how to breathe? Got it. My first time practicing breathing techniques in a yoga studio, I thought, how could this make any difference in my body? What could this possibly do for me? My attention was only on moving the body, while focusing on my breath seemed like a waste of time. My minds attention was on getting stronger and leaner, not sitting on a cushion. I had no idea the Pranayama practice would become life changing for me. Even though I didn’t initially seek out more, it filtrated into all areas of my life with an unmistakable calling to eventually teach this powerful practice at retreats, hospitals, schools and conferences internationally.

The formal practice of regulating the breath is at the heart of Yoga. It is the bridge between the physical, active practice of Yoga (asana) and the inward practice that leads us to allowing the mind, body and spirit to unite, rejuvenated, replenished and nurtured.

Practicing simple Pranayama exercises help you have more insight into your emotions, boost  your energy levels and increase your concentration and attention. It's scientifically proven to help with stress, anxiety, depression and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders.

Usually, if you're not paying attention to your breath, it can be jumpy and sporadic, many times fluctuating depending simply on your thoughts. If you find your breath is short and choppy, you may be feeling hurried, rushed or overwhelmed. If you find yourself holding your breath throughout the day, you may be having thoughts of anger, fear or worry. On the flip side, when you're relaxed, you'll notice your breath becomes deep and slow.

The first yogis discovered that if they could even out the breath, they could also even out the scattered thoughts of the mind and now science also backs that up, reporting it take as little as 10 minutes a day of focused mindfulness to build a stronger mind and create changes in the way your brain functions. According to Dr. Daniel Siegel, after just eight weeks of simple breath awareness training, they were able to see positive effects, including an improved function of the immune system, improved blood pressure and increased empathy.

Mindfulness breathing is accessible for all of us and can be as easy as gently bringing your awareness to the sensation of the breath. Here’s two simple breathing techniques to create a new state in your body any time you feel anxious, tense or overwhelmed...

The Belly Breath
  1. Put yourself in a comfortable position, and place your hands on your lower abdomen.
  2. Inhale slowly and deeply, you will feel your belly expand like a balloon.
  3. Feel the navel draw back as you release old, stale air by exhaling slowly.
  4. Inhale easily. Feel your abdomen expand again.
  5. As you exhale, fully release all the air out, navel draws back towards the spine.
 

This is the natural way of breathing, like a baby’s breath.

The Calming Breath   

1. Do five to ten Belly Breaths.
  2. While inhaling, imagine that you are breathing into a tense or painful part of your body.
  3. With each exhale; imagine tension streaming from your nostrils.
  4. Do the Belly Breath and imaging until you feel relaxed.
Begin your breathing with equal counts: in-one, two, three, four; out-one, two, three, four. For a deeper state of relaxation, change to a count of four in and eight out. Continue for a minute and notice how relaxed and at ease your body feels.

Whether your interested in learning new techniques for coping with stress in the workplace, improve your concentration, boost energy levels, manage anxiety or improve your state of over all well-being, conscious regulation of the breath is a valuable tool and can be as easy as belly breathing and counting your breath. Practice it anywhere, anytime and the results can be life-changing!

Happy Yoga Joins the Fun at The 8th Annual Lightworkers Midwest Conference!

Join me at the high energy inspirational conference for the purpose of moving humanity forward. Amazing key note speakers, and presentations- from Quantum Healing to astounding archaeological discoveries! 

SEPTEMBER 21, 22, AND 23

Please visit their website for registration and additional information.

http://www.lightworkersconference.com/

Feel free to share with all your friends!!! 


P.S. Mention Sarah Starr when you purchase your tickets before the end of August and receive the early bird special!!! Yipeeeeee!

Check out Happy Yoga's Newest Video!!!

Happy Yoga with Sarah Starr Gentle Chair Yoga Trailer

Enjoy a short video of my newest yoga DVD for beginners, "Gentle Chair Yoga with Sarah Starr." You'll be able to apply these techniques for mini yoga breaks at work, a long plane ride, or any other time you need to balance the mind, increase blood flow and boost your energy. Enjoy a yoga practice that is invigorating, fun, and accessible, but most of all, effective. Check it out and start creating new possibilities for you AND your body!


To purchase visit: https://www.createspace.com/341653