Weekly tips to bring island-inspired wellness into your everyday life from Rosalie Bay Resort wellness coordinator Laura Lund.
Take a moment to focus on your breath. Breathing patterns affect our bodies and our well-being. When we are relaxed, our breathing patterns are soft and slow. When we experience stress, our breathing tends to speed up. Breathing deep from our diaphragm helps lower stress levels by inducing the parasympathetic nervous system, which works to calm the body.
According to yogajournal.com, “pranayama, the formal practice of controlling the breath, lies at the heart of yoga” and “can provide a bridge between the individual self and the universal soul.”
Spend a few minutes each day focusing on deep breathing to help reduce stress and calm the mind.
Start either lying down or seated with one hand on the chest and one hand on the belly. As you inhale, feel the belly rise. As you exhale, feel the belly draw into the spine. Practice a few rounds this way counting to 4 on the inhale and 4 on the exhale.
Next, deepen the breath even further by inhaling into the belly and the chest, expanding the ribs. As you exhale, the chest falls and the navel draws into the spine. Repeat a few rounds of this deep breath, and when you are finished become aware of your breathing. How does your body feel? How does your mind feel?
Try to practice deep breathing daily for 5 minutes to reset your body.
When you visit our wellness resort there are many opportunities to relax and practice pranayama. Take a seat on one of the many meditation spots found throughout the resort. Our yoga classes and guided meditation can also help you explore the subtle movements of your breath and lead you toward an inner sense of calm and relaxation.