Calm Commute: Breath Awareness on your Journey!

Do you ever get stressed out on your commute? Rush hour traffic, delays, packed out trains, platforms, tourist and people walking too slow! At times just getting to work can be unpleasant and doesn't exactly help us get our day off to a great start. 
So what can we do? If leaving before or after rush hour isn't an option and we must navigate through the dreaded tube or subway system we can try our best not be reactive to all the stress and energy around us. One of the simplest things we can do is breath awareness and infact this simple exercise is great for all stressful situations whether we are stuck in traffic or having  heated debate. Both external stressors and our emotions and state of mind affect our breath.

How to practice breath awareness on the train...

• Take a moment to notice your breath without trying to change anything. 
• See if you can feel where in the body the breath is held (often when we are stressed we feel tension in our chests and our breath shallow and short) 
• Try to consciously lengthen your exhales and inhales. 
• Notice the jaw and the shoulders and relax them. 
• Encourage your breath get a little longer and smoother. 
• Do not get involved in external chaos around you, stay with the breath within you.

Breath awareness exercises can be refined over time. After a while you may start slipping it into your daily routine, allowing you to stay calm and centered. 
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Until Next time.. Happy Commuting