Every Breath Counts

There are dozens of times you are physically still during the course of the day without even noticing it. By beginning to notice, and to energize those moments by tuning into the feeling state of the body, we recharge our essence - or relax the tensions to connect to true vitality - if even for just a full inhalation and a full exhalation. It's a ten-second practice if you're slow (though having a 30 second breath is an interesting thing to play with - or more. It's like putting your phone on a charging pad instead of just the table. Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged "3 breaths and a smile" whenever you hear a bell ring. There are many prompts you can use throughout the day to nourish your practice 

Bring the focus of attention to the feeling state of the body without trying to fix, change or interpret anything. Just noticing it. Notice for a full inhalation and a full exhalation. You may notice nothing. that's fine. But you'll probably notice some expansion on the inhale and some release on the exhale.

Count backwards from 20 to 0. Each number gets a full inhalation and a full exhalation (this will take anywhere from one to three minutes). If you lose your place, just go with the next number.  You can do this while doing other activities (climbing stairs, emptying the dishwasher, cleaning, or endless other options). 

These 20 breaths are a real asset to your day, and they offer insight into your level of focus without pathologizing distraction - just noticing it.