Decompress, Let It Breathe

 

It starts with a breath, as all of these posts do.

A cleansing breath, not forceful, not hurried. A breath into the very centre of your soul.

But your breath is but a visitor, here to energise but not to stay. Do not hold on to your breath too long. But four long, languid seconds, long enough for your breath to make acquaintance with your flesh, your blood, before it's time to move on.

And release it, and hold with your chest empty for another few seconds. But four long, quiet beats, as your physical and mental tension goes out of your mouth and nose.

And by the time you are ready to begin the next breath, you will  have felt some of your body's and mind's tensions gone.

Have you been holding your breath all this time? Don't wait for me. Breathe, for goodness' sake.

Beat of four,

Hold for more

Show your breath

The exit door.

Outward breath

Shed your pain

Time to draw

Your breath again.

And breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Just like that. Exactly like that.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

The easy repetition gives you a framework to play on, to hang your conscious thoughts on. Count for four, hold for four, leave them there as you explore.

Reach the edge, and leave a worry draped about a pole. Let's leave it there for now.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

And yes, it does feel good to keep up a rhythm like that.

Got more worries and woes to leave behind? They weren't holding you back any. Let's put them somewhere over there for now.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

And you're feeling so much lighter, having left the majority of your burdensome thoughts over there. Let's leave them there for now, too.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Almost all gone, now, and there's that slipping, and moments of unawareness, like that one, and let's take the last of your conscious processes, and leave them there for now.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Breathe for four, hold for four, release for four, hold for four.

Just you, and your box breathing. Best to forget those things you have put over there for now, forget who you are, where you are, and anything else except doing this box breathing exercise.

You're decompressing. Let it breathe. That's all.

Now play this music file while you perfect that. This gives you the perfect rhythm, right up to the abrupt ending.

The fun continues. This page will keep you feeling good.