Mindfulness Challenge: Breathe

Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. Today you’re encouraged to focus on the breath as a grounding point. At least once today, take five to ten deep, slow breaths, inhaling and exhaling through the nose.

Mindfulness is a practice and the breath is an ever-present tool that can be used to help facilitate that practice. Often it can be difficult to just follow the breath, in and out, even just to the count of five breaths. These calming breathing gifs provide helpful visuals to stay focused on the breath. If you’re not able to access an electronic visual, tapping toes in count with the breath, lifting one toe on the inhale and lowering it on the exhale, can be useful. Another option is to place a hand on your belly, noticing the rise and fall of the navel on each breath.

Again, mindfulness is a practice; there’s no good or bad. There may be days when your mind wanders, flitting from thought to thought; notice that without judgement. Other days your mind may meander more slowly from thought to thought; notice that without judgement. The aim is to just practice. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four.

To learn more about the power of the breath, click here.