Tip #13 of 13 Tips to A Healthier Me

BREATHE!

This is the final tip of my 13 Tips to A Healthier Me and what I believe to be the most important. The one thing you can't live without. Breathing is the most powerful tool you can use against stress. The breathe delivers life to your cells. It brings oxygen into the body so that it can be circulated to every cell. Oxygen releases tension, wakes you up and keeps you focused. Breathing also helps to cleanse your body.

Start every day with a few deep breathes. make it the first thing that you do. Breathe in and out focusing only on the breathe. When you come to potentially stressful situations throughout the day go back to your breathe. Take 3 deep breaths and release the stress. You are the one creating the stress and you are the only one that can release it.

Breathing is something that our body does automatically but we do have the power to make our breath shallower or deeper. Deepening the inhale and exhale will benefit the body and mind. Here are some times when it is important to remember to breathe deeply:

• When you are feeling sleepy.
• When you are losing your focus.
• When you want to flip the bird at the guy that just cut you off.
• When you are getting impatient from being on hold to the phone company.
• When you are waiting in line and you are hungry and just want to go home.
• When someone is complaining to you non-stop.
• When things aren't going your way.
• When you feel the stress creeping up.
• When you are scared.
• When you are nervous.
• When you are sad.

You get the idea. Basically when you are feeling anything else than happy, joyful and at ease remember to breathe deeply. If you are feeling happy and joyful and at ease then you are already breathing at just the right rate.

Happy breathing!