Review #5

It is imperative that you see a pulmonary specialist for evaluation if you have chronic breathing problems such as a cough or wheezing that hang on for more than a couple weeks.

If you, or anyone in your family, have been diagnosed with a chronic condition, you are not alone. There are countless national support groups, organizations and foundations available at no cost. Your search will lead to a wealth of the latest scientific information that can help you ask better questions and make better decisions. Never take at face value any online treatment advice without first running the suggestions or products by a doctor who knows you and is familiar with your medical history.

Colds and influenza come from viruses, not from bacteria. Antibiotics are effective only against bacteria. Inappropriate overuse and careless disposal of antibiotics have led to strains of superbugs that are always one jump ahead of our medical arsenal.

If you decide to skip a flu shot, let it be because you have concerns about the efficacy of the serum, not because you were too busy or forgot.

The breathing exercises are merely colors on your palette, not to be confused with the painting itself. The exercises themselves are neither magical nor mysterious. Their purpose is simply to re-introduce you to yourself. Without regular practice they are merely words on a page.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Pooped at Work?

It’s not unusual to feel pooped at work. If, however, you feel chronically tired then it’s time to request lab work to monitor your thyroid, blood sugar, white count, medications, etc.

Next eliminate the backlash from too much caffeine, too much sugar, too many carbs and too much lunch.

The further humans stray from Nature’s design, the more they encumber their performance and endurance. Your car is designed with guidelines for size and inflation of tires, type of fuel, weight of oil. When you ignore basic design requirements, your car may continue to move but you will not come close to peak performance.

The human body has been evolving, changing, adapting for tens of thousands of years but Nature makes changes very slowly. However, the demands placed upon you have changed dramatically within just a few decades!

You are faced hourly with corporate challenges while still functioning within a hunter/gatherer body. Since few of us are willing to return to foraging for food and herding goats, the next best thing is to compensate for the dramatic changes. Use your considerable IQ and experience to design a behavior plan that stays as close to your original design.

1. You are designed to MOVE. You are not designed to sit in a chair.
2. Your eyes are designed to move all around and change depth of focus often.
3. You are designed to breathe deeply, efficiently and steadily.
4. Your bones were fashioned to balance one atop the other without giving your muscles unnecessary work.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

String of Pearls

As always, breathe sloooooowly, gently, and deeply. And, as always no discomfort ever with a breathing exercise, either mentally or physically.

Lay your relaxed dominant hand in your lap, palm up. With each new breath you will touch the tip of your thumb to a fingertip or to your palm.

First Breath: Touch the tip of your thumb lightly to the tip of your little finger.
Second Breath: Touch the tip of your thumb to the tip of your ring finger.
Third Breath: Tip of your thumb to the tip of your middle finger.
Fourth Breath: Tip of your thumb to the tip of your index fingerFifth Breath: Curl your thumb in toward your palm. Repeat as long as you feel comfortable.

Note: This is an exercise that is wonderfully effective and almost invisible to others. After some practice, you will be able to center yourself simply by touching your thumb once to any fingertip.

Be well. Breath beautifully.

Fluttering

Fluttering is an effective way (albeit silly) to dump some tension from your face. Face muscles are very small, very complicated and, therefore, a bit difficult to unknot.

Considering all the personal and professional challenges that get dumped on you during the day, it is no wonder that you squint, grimace, clench your jaws, wrinkle your forehead, tense your tongue and jut your head forward! Small face muscles eat up an enormous amount of energy. A tense face messes with your breathing and that messes with your speaking and that messes with your accomplishments.

We will stray briefly from the preferred nose-breathing. Keep any mouth-breathing brief and stop for water if you begin to feel dry.

Keep your mouth closed with lips and jaw muscles completely relaxed. Your lips will be parted slightly only by the escaping exhalation.

1. Breathe in through your nose. Softly blow out each exhalation through your relaxed lips until they flutter. Wet your lips when necessary. Horses and babies make this same sound.
2. Inhale slowly through your nose and breathe out through your “flutter.” Gently squeeze out as much air as possible. The gentle vibration will gradually melt away tension from your face and jaws.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.