Catch your breath

By Dan Brulé

Thanks to the coronavirus crisis, I am happy, peaceful, calm, grateful, hopeful, and inspired! But there is no denying that people are struggling and suffering at this time, and my heart goes out to everyone.

We are unable to travel freely. Hospitals are overwhelmed, vital health supplies are depleted or lacking, businesses are closing, people are out of work, even church services and spiritual gatherings – just when we need them the most – are not allowed or are being cancelled. But we need to remember that all this will most certainly pass.

We have lots of reasons to feel grateful today and to feel good about the future. This crisis is awakening people’s creativity and compassion. And new unimagined opportunities will be waiting when we get out the other side of this craziness.

Covid-19 is helping us to find all the weak links in our communication systems, our health systems and economic systems, and so we will be much better prepared going forward.

Today, even as we are practicing social distancing, we are coming together like never before!

Millions of healthcare workers, scientists, and technologists are simultaneously focused on the same end. Thousands of studies and tests are underway, and they are being openly shared. I say that we should take advantage of this forced or unplanned pause. We are all locked down at home for a while. And so why not use the time to strengthen your immune system, strengthen your intuition, awaken your creative energies, and develop some new skills or talents?

Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial in times like these. Remember that the brain was designed to keep us safe, not to make us happy. And so it is always looking for danger everywhere in everything and in everyone. It keeps us on constant red alert.

We need to get a handle on this ancient brain and consciously direct our thoughts and energy in positive ways. If you do not manage your mind and your emotions, you will cut yourself off from your spirit, and you will rob yourself of a lot of peace and joy and love – and health!

Don’t lose sight of the fact that life is an amazing gift and we are all truly blessed. Use this time to deliberately generate gratitude for all that you have and all that is good in your life.

Use this time to master your breath, because in the process of doing that, you will master your mind, body, and emotions. You will master yourself and life! This is a perfect time to apply the basic life principles that are taught in breathwork:

Here is an example of one of a great socially-distanced morning ritual you can use to create your own daily practice during your home lockdown. Take advantage of this unplanned opportunity to do some personal development:

First words: Start your day with a few minutes of high-quality self-talk (use uplifting affirmations, power statements, mantras, etc.). Do this to preempt or override automatic, survival-based, or fearbased mental reactions.

Hydrate: Drink a glass of fresh clean water to quickly fuel your body. And, while drinking it, deliberately generate feelings of gratitude and appreciation.

Power up: Use breathwork to charge your system with life force energy. Practice the full yogic breath, box breathing, or slow diaphragmatic breathing for 5 to 20 minutes to counteract fear, anxiety, worry, stress, etc.

Use this time to master your breath, because in the process of doing that, you will master your mind, body, and emotions.

Awareness: Quiet your mind. Develop focus. Become more conscious of your thoughts, observe your moods, your attitudes, your habits. Pay attention to your actions and your automatic reactions. Sense your personal boundaries and adjust them in healthy positive ways.

Relaxation: Relax your body. Don’t let stress, tension, or anxiety build up in your system. Stay open and soft and flowing. Let go of your fearful reactions and don’t let the fear that is gripping the world spread to your mind and body.

Breathing: Energize yourself in a healthy and powerful way. Charge your nervous system and your immune system with pure life force energy. Use this time to strengthen your intuition and to connect with your spirit, your source, your center, your heart, your essence, your purpose, your mission.

Visualization: Envision yourself moving through your day with ease and enjoyment. See yourself successfully completing all your planned tasks.

Move: Stretch and move your body, your spine, joints, muscles. Do yoga, work out, dance. Focus on flow and mobility, flexibility and strength.

Throughout the day, take a minute or two here and there to re-establish or maintain your positivity, optimism, courage, compassion, and healthy emotions. Uplift and inspire others.

Dan Brulé is a renowned pioneer in the field of Breathwork and one of the originators of ‘‘Breath Therapy.” For more techniques and information, read Just Breathe (available through Amazon), or visit breathmastery.com, where you can learn about group classes and individual coaching sessions.

The South Coast Insider | May 2020