Release stress with Lion’s breath
The week has started in full swing and I don’t know about you, but I am already feeling overwhelmed. Running around doing errands, getting stuck in traffic, meetings etc. Keeping a work-life balance is never an easy thing. I have many friends who complain they forget to eat or have to grab a snack on-the-go; they don’t have time to exercise for whatever reason whether is work, family, kids you name it!
That’s why it is even more important to carve out some time for yourself, even with a busy schedule. A few days ago I was doing an awareness meditation and the teacher mentioned something that somehow got stuck in my head: you can find space for yourself anywhere, even when you are alone in the bathroom, if that’s a place you can find peace.
One of my absolute favorites to calm down and regroup with myself is lion’s breath. It’s very simple, takes only 10 minutes of your time, and can be done anywhere. The only thing you need to do is sit upright, on a pillow, a chair or your couch. It is quite intuitive: you simply need to stick your tongue out and roar like a lion. Trust me, it’s very relieving! It blows out the steam, takes that rock off your chest and makes you feel refreshed. It acts primarily by relaxing your facial muscles while improving cardiovascular function.
So let’s get to it!
Find a comfortable seated position.
Place your hands on your knees.
Inhale deeply through your nose.
Then open your mouth wide, stick your tongue out, stretch it down towards your chin.
Exhale with all your power, making a “ha” sound, while the breath comes out from your abdomen, through the inward part of your tongue.
Breathe normally for a few seconds.
Repeat again up to 10 times, slowly but forcefully.
This powerful sequence should release all that tension that is stuck inside you and melt it away!
After this practice I usually make a herbal tea or a delicious and healthy Cacao latte with calming cocoa and ashwagandha before going on with whatever I was going to do next.
Try it and let us know if it works for you!
