ACTION STEP: Stress Reduction

This week, we’re focused on relaxation by breathing, one step at a time.

Sitting tall, lengthen your spine. Breathe. Inhale, exhale. Pay attention to your pace of breathing, whether slow or fast, whether shallow or deep.

Just before you eat, practice:

breathing. Concentrate on making the exhales longer than the inhales. If it takes 2 counts for the inhale, try to increase the exhale to 3 counts, then 4. The idea is to lengthen the exhale, and slow the entire process down. This increases the parasympathetic response, calming you, and allowing your body to relax. We are good at tension, not so good at relaxation. By becoming aware of your breathing, you can control your stress. Practice for 3 minutes.

Only then, eat.

This adds a habit you already do (eating) to a habit that you want to form (stress reduction).

That’s Aging Intelligently.