Self-awareness and breath - an experiment

By Catriona Murray
This is a little experiment in self-awareness and how paying attention to our breathing can help. Listen to the audio below for the best experience!

Click 'read more' to see the text of the audio and read the rest of the article.

Do a little experiment with me:

• close your eyes
• pay attention to your emotions - what are you feeling right now? Capture a word or two to describe this.
• write this down (with eyes open!).
• now close your eyes again.
• pay attention to your physical body: how does _it_ feel? Write a word or two down on this.

Now:

• Close your eyes again.
• Take a long, deep breath, as if filling your body like a balloon.
• Hold for a moment.
• Then, breathe out slowly through your mouth.
• Repeat for 2 more in and out breaths.

And then:

• close your eyes and see what you are feeling (emotions). Write this down (eyes open!).
• do the same for your physical body: write this down.

***

Do you notice any difference?

I do. At first I was slightly ungrounded and grumpy. Then, after the breaths, I felt more focused and cheerful. I had a slight pain in my temple: this was less after the breathing.

Breathing is an essential physiological function, and also a way to help focus our minds on the present moment.

Using our breath, or even simply choosing to pay attention to how we feel, physically, emotionally, perhaps even spiritually, can be of great help in looking after ourselves as entire beings. If we can be aware of how we feel, now, then it is easier for us to notice if that changes, e.g. with certain foods, physical activities or positions, even with certain people. By increasing our awareness of how we feel, we are already helping ourselves adjust: we are aware of what feels good, not so good, or even downright bad, and what we can adjust to change that for the better.

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You may also like Maria's article from last August: Relax if you dare