03-Dec-2009

Panic Prescription

One-Minute Breath

Yogic texts and Chinese medicine teach that every person is particularly sensitive to their fears along the meridians of the diaphragm. Everyone has them, and it makes sense, when you consider the diaphragm’s role in drawing breath in and out, that your fears would be so closely linked to your breath – after all, you know when you’re relaxed by the ease with which you breathe.

So why not exercise this major muscle and use your breath to cure yourself of traumatic thoughts. It’s simple, though it will take some practice to build up to it. All you have to do is breathe in three segments: 20 seconds on the inhale, 20 seconds holding, 20 seconds exhaling, and repeat. It will get difficult, because working with the diaphragm in this manner evokes fears. But be brave. Try it just three times to start, then push beyond, up to 11 minutes. You’ll find that once you get past that initial panic, a world of peace awaits.