I believe that in order to manage daily motivation, we need to have better control over our thoughts, as they also impact our stress level. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Six Steps to Manage Daily Motivation, a relaxed mind can think more clearly. While I do not have in- depth knowledge about meditation, I am sharing my personal experience with meditation and how it has helped me over the past four years. In 2019, I started experiencing shortness of breath. It reached a point where I could not have a normal conversation. In a stressful situation it was impossible to talk, deliver a presentation or facilitate a workshop. I approached my family physician who then referred me to a respirologist. Due to the pandemic the wait time was longer than usual. Anyhow, I underwent some breathing tests and nothing was diagnosed. On one hand I was relieved and on the other hand I was looking for some answers to my breathing challenge.
This is when I turned to regular breathing exercises because I could not think clearly and I struggled to carry out normal conversations. I dreaded speaking in a group of people because I could hear my voice change as I couldn’t keep up with my breath.
By sparing just ten minutes a day for meditation/breathing exercises, I have experienced benefits to my overall health. I sit with my eyes closed and focus on my breathing and perform some breathing exercises. Here are some of the benefits:
Improved breathing – My main reason for turning to breathing exercises was to find a solution for shortness of breath. Deep breathing helps to expand the lungs and slow down the breath; therefore, I have better control over my breathing. I experience shortness of breath less frequently as a result of breathing exercises.
Ease in speaking – Have you ever had that experience when you are out of breath, and you cannot speak normally? That’s what it was like for me on a daily basis and still is on some days. Maybe it is a sign that I should talk less (haha). Now that I am learning to manage my breathing through exercises and by keeping calm through meditation, I am able to have normal conversations with ease.
Increased energy – You have probably heard or experienced that most of us do shallow breathing. As a result, not enough oxygen reaches our vital organs. Through deep breathing, I have experienced that I have more energy and I feel less tired throughout the day.
Calm nervousness – Deep breathing exercises helped me to stay calm in stressful situations. I no longer struggle to catch up with my breath while having a conversation or delivering presentations. I am not naturally a public speaker, however, shortness of breath made me avoid public speaking altogether. Deep breathing helps overcome the fear of public speaking to some extent.
Clear Skin – If nothing else motivates you to follow a routine of deep breathing, having clear skin will. Most of us (ladies) spend a good chunk of our paycheque towards skin care products to have radiant looking skin. I can attest that just like drinking water makes skin glow, so do breathing exercises and best of all, they are free. What more can a woman ask for? Glowing skin without spending a fortune!!
More focused – Since the brain gets more oxygen to function through deep breathing exercises, my focus has improved over time. I used to jump from one task to another, failing to prioritize them. A few deep breaths a day relaxes my mind, and allows me to focus more clearly.
If you have an underlying medical condition, check with your doctor before adding any exercise to your routine, just like I did, to rule out anything that might require medical treatment. I have certainly benefited from a meditation/deep breathing routine. By sitting all day, our blood circulation slows down. The breathing exercises help the internal organs get the oxygen they need to function properly. Try them and enjoy the benefits.
