While it may not be anatomically correct, there’s something wonderfully soothing about imagining your heart as the center of every breath. Here’s how:
Rest both hands over your heart.
Imagine breathing in and out through your heart.
Feel your body relax and your mind quiet.
Continue until you feel calm returning to your entire system.
I once tried this with my daughter while she was recovery from surgery. Still in the hospital and having a very difficult time with pain management, her heart monitor registered dangerously high. I placed my hand over her heart and asked her to breathe into my hand. Very soon the monitor was quiet and ease began to spread through her body. We stuck with it until she was able to maintain that sense of calm all on her own.
Heart breathing isn’t something I invented. This simplified version is a derivative of HeartMath, an intriguing, science-based, approach to relieving anxiety and fear. For more on HeartMath, check out their website: https://www.heartmath.com.
Photo by Nine Köpfer on Unsplash
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