“Inhale-two-three-four, exhale-two-three-four.”

I am always flying around so fast that I forget how to breathe properly, how to circulate the oxygen through my body, how to breathe consciously.  Lately, I have been literally counting out this 4-breath pattern for my Pilates class because even there, in a class with a specific breathing pattern (inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth), I catch them rushing their breathing and then I notice that I am leading the troupes with my hurried inhales and exhales.  Tonight in class, I was a pest making us all slow down to the counting of my voice.  Four counts, conscience breathing.

On my way home, I caught myself smiling.  Just driving and smiling.  I felt better.  I felt like my brain had cleared some of it’s mid-week smog out and my muscles had stretched back into their natural place. It is scientifically proven that slower, controlled breathing will release tension in a person’s body and mind and, for me, it was true tonight.

Most times my body will fall into it’s pre-programmed short shallow breathing, but when I think of it, I’ll draw it out, filling my tummy with air, and with the same control, push the air back out and letting my shoulder blades fall down my back, neck high, tall posture…  The way I was meant to be.