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Breath is best

What if I said there was something you could do to boost your immune system, protect your respiratory tract from infections and reduce stress? Sounds pretty great really doesn’t it?!

Well it really is as simple as breathing. More specifically breathing through your nose. I’m not saying it’s the fix to everything but breathing through your nose as much as you can really does have a lot of benefits.

If you’ve every been to a yoga class you’ve maybe wondered why the teacher bangs on about nasal breathing.

One reason for breathing through your nose is that it helps to filter out particles within the air, including bacteria and viruses, by trapping them in the little hairs in the nostrils. As the air travels further into the nose there is a network of little bony “caves” that humidify and warm the air and smaller particles are filtered out by the lining (mucous membranes). This basic act of breathing through your nose is the body’s natural filter and first line defence to protect us against foreign materials and hazards.

Small bones within the nose also increase the velocity of the air coming into the respiratory system which assists with the diffusion of air in the lower part of the lungs and increases oxygenation of the blood.

We are all aware that oxygen is vital for the cells in every organ system in our body to work. Studies have shown that when we inhale through our nose, nitrogen oxide which is produced in the sinuses which communicate with the nasal passages, mixes with the inhaled air and is carried into the lungs. This gas causes the blood vessels, at the point of gas exchange in the lungs, to dilate and this has been shown to increase the oxygenation of the blood by 10-15% more than if you were to inhale through the mouth! I don’t know about you but I personally think that is pretty incredible. Nitrogen oxide also kills some bacteria and viruses!

Given the current events with covid-19 ravaging the world, it is definitely good to know that focusing our attention on the way we breathe can help to reduce our risk of contracting the virus. *DISCLAIMER* That does not mean that all the other protective measures we need to take are irrelevant. It’s just something else to bear in mind!

So what about the stress factor? Well there is definitely peace of mind in knowing that we are helping to purify the air entering our lungs, but in a physical sense breathing through the nose also helps to regulate the nervous system. Nobody can operate full time in a state of stress without suffering negative consequences! Breathing through the nose switches our body from “fight or flight”, which harnesses the sympathetic nervous system and switches on the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for “rest and digest”. It allows our stress response to be downgraded and allows our basic necessary functions to work properly. Our hormonal system works better and (especially important just now) our immune system can work more effectively.

The next time you feel yourself getting harassed etc take a few long and steady breaths through the nose and see if you can feel yourself instantly relax a little.

So here is a little challenge for you. Try and take 5-10 minutes every day to focus on breathing through your nose. Maybe first thing in the morning or last thing at night – you can even do it while you’re still lying in bed. Focus on making the inhale as deep as you can and try to match the length of the exhale to the inhale. Maybe you will start to notice a little more saliva in your mouth as the body gets ready to digest food. Hopefully over the coming days and weeks you will notice that more and more throughout the day you naturally find yourself nasal breathing more than open mouth breathing and start to feel the benefits 🙂

 

This was my attempt to get a photo of me looking peaceful etc etc but this was the reality of trying to work from home with a toddler 🙂CD4B59DF-C596-46FF-826F-A5C0BF4F5508

Namaste

 

Acceptance

Well I’ve finally found the time (and inclination) to get back onto the site.

Life has definitely changed dramatically since Andrew was born exactly five weeks ago today.

In that time I have experienced a myriad of feelings and emotions (mostly good) but overwhelmingly I have found a whole new level of patience and acceptance.

Instead of feeling frustrated and inadequate that I haven’t updated the site in a while I’m just excited that today I’ve found 5 minutes to compose a post.

I also managed to do a full yoga practice. Ok – it was in 2 different sections because the baby needed fed half way through but instead of irritation and a sense of failure I managed to just be satisfied that I had done any yoga at all.

Some days just the intention of getting on the mat to practice has to be enough.

So the message from this post is to give yourself a break. Set an intention to do some yoga or spend 10 minutes in quiet meditation – but if you don’t manage to fulfill that intention don’t give yourself a hard time and let frustration take over. Just accept whatever you managed 2255E386-5566-4A3E-9C14-92E1F725ED22to do and remember there is always tomorrow 😊🙏🏻

If you need more inspiration then yoga journal are inspiring people to join in a march meditation challenge #MarchMeditationchallenge so if you’re interested log on online at yogajournal.com/meditationchallenge

namaste

 

Sitting with discomfort

Learning to “sit with discomfort” is something you will commonly come across in yoga. But what does it actually mean?

It is a difficult one as there is a huge difference between discomfort – as in something that at the time is maybe challenging but not detrimental, and pain which is distinctly unpleasant and is our body’s way of telling us to get out of a damaging situation.

Firstly the only person who can distinguish between the two is you!! It is so important in yoga as in many other situations, to develop an awareness of your own body and it’s signals and limitations on any given occasion. What is perceived as a deep stretch to one person could be detrimental to the body for another and so the “look” of a yoga stretch or posture is a lot less important than the feel.

The same can be translated to life situations in general. Sometimes a little bit of pressure is a good driver to achieve and sometimes enduring a challenging situation can make us much stronger, but the most important thing is to really listen to your body and mind! If anything perceived as uncomfortable starts to become damaging then don’t think twice about really evaluating the situation and getting the hell out of there if ultimately you are going to suffer!!! Remember what works for one person doesn’t always have to work for another!

Spend some time on self awareness and give yourself permission to look after yourself – whatever that might need to be.

Namaste 🙏🏻

 

NEW CLASSES CONFIRMED

NEW CLASSES!

Now taking bookings for the beginners block which will start on 21st August and run for 5 consecutive weeks. The class will run every Tuesday evening in the John Fulton Hall Fenwick, form 6.30pm until 7.30pm.

Blocks do need to be booked in advance as there are limited numbers and payment is required to confirm the booking. Cost of the 5 week block is £35. All mats and equipment will be provided.

The beginners block is suitable for people who have done very little or no yoga before or are returning to the practice after a break and perhaps lack the confidence to join in a regular class. It will be slightly slower paced than the vinyasa classes although still have a nice flow, and will be informative as we move from posture to posture, really focusing on alignment and breaking down the poses. Modifications will be offered for those with limitations or injuries and at the end of the block you will be much better equipped to join in the other classes if you wish.

Prenatal yoga!

This class is designed for mums to be at any stage of pregnancy (with medical clearance). If you have never practiced yoga before these classes are also suitable for you as they are planned with expecting mums in mind, taking into account the changes our bodies go through in the various stages of pregnancy and the limitations this can pose. Not only are the classes a great way to keep active through your pregnancy but also offer a lovely way to take some “me” time and provide some much needed relaxation. Please feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions.

As per the beginners block the prenatal classes are priced at £35 for the block of 5 classes, the first block starting on 21st August. Please message me via the contact me tab to book you space and for details on how to pay as payment will secure your spot.

Class will run from 8pm-9pm on Tuesday evenings in the john Fulton Hall Fenwick. Mats and other equipment will be provided. 

I am really excited to be offering these classes in addition to the drop in classes on a Monday and Wednesday.

Namaste